The two Air Canada pilots killed when a plane crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Local media reported Forest was 30-years-old and from Québec, while Gunther graduated from Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto in 2023.
The incident, which occurred late Sunday night, injured 41 people who were taken to hospital, prompting the airport to close until Monday afternoon. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bran Bedford expressed the tragedy of losing two young men at the start of their careers.
Forest learned to fly bush planes in Saguenay before joining Air Canada in December 2022. His great aunt, Jeannette Gagnier, shared memories of his dedication to flying since a young age, emphasizing the profound loss felt by his family.
Gunther was remembered fondly by Seneca Polytechnic, which announced that flags would be lowered to half-mast in his memory.
Among the survivors was flight attendant Solange Tremblay, who was ejected from the plane and discovered alive, despite suffering multiple fractures. Her daughter characterized her survival as a miraculous event.
The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing the investigation, which revealed issues with radar systems and the air traffic control environment. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted the need for substantial updates to the air traffic control infrastructure to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
