Pilot, Co-Pilot In Deadly LaGuardia Airport Collision Identified

UPDATE: Pilot, Co-Pilot Confirmed Dead After Horrific Airplane Collision At LaGuardia Airport

“The two pilots were flying an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 regional jet operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada’s regional partner,” Fox News reports.

Gunther was the first officer alongside pilot Forest.

Antoine Forest identified as one of the Air Canada pilots killed in LaGuardia plane crash https://t.co/8yw8dHDWNi pic.twitter.com/5mJpoyhsGF

— New York Post (@nypost) March 23, 2026

Fox News shared further:

Jeannette Gagnier, the great aunt of Forest, told The Associated Press that he always wanted to be a pilot. The small city of Coteau-du-Lac in southwestern Quebec also identified Forest, saying in an online post that the pilot was originally from the community.

Gunther was identified as the first officer on the flight in an online obituary posted by Seneca Polytechnic, where the young pilot graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program in 2023.

Gunther joined Jazz Aviation following graduation and began his professional flying career, according to the obituary.

“Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gunther’s family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors,” the obituary said. “He will be deeply missed.”

Some passengers aboard the flight have said that the pilots’ actions before the deadly impact likely saved the lives of those on board.

“Looking back on it, the pilot did the best thing he could,” passenger Jack Cabot said. “He hit the brakes as hard as he could, and he knew it was going to be at the cost of his own life.”

Passenger Clément Lelièvre told The Associated Press that the pilots braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down, crediting their “incredible reflexes” with saving lives.

Video footage showed the deadly impact between the jet and emergency vehicle.

Video Footage Emerges Of Deadly LaGuardia Airport Collision

An audio recording caught an air traffic controller telling the truck driver to “stop, stop, stop” before the collision.

“Stop, stop, stop. Truck 1 stop, stop, stop,” the controller says in the clip.

“Stop truck 1. Stop. Stop truck 1,” he continued.

“Jet 646. Jet 646, I see you collide with a vehicle. Hold position; I know you can’t move. The vehicle is responding to you now,” the controller said.

BREAKING: MacKenzie Gunther is identified as second pilot killed in Air Canada crash at LaGuardia, in New York.

He served as the first officer on Air Canada Express Flight 646 from Montreal on Sunday night, working alongside pilot Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec pic.twitter.com/2TMEubjqDj

— Clash Observer (@clashobserver) March 24, 2026

More from the New York Post:

The Air Line Pilots Association remembered Gunther and Forest as two pilots dedicated to passenger safety.

“The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy,” union president Jason Ambrosi said in a statement.

“Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646,” said Jazz Aviation president Doug Clarke.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our two pilots and our unwavering support to those who have been injured.”

Flags at Seneca Polytechnic’s campuses will be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Gunther.

Counseling services will be available at the school’s Peterborough campus for those coping with the “tragic news,” the college announced.