Who were the pilots killed after a plane hit a firetruck at LaGuardia?

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The aviation community is mourning the loss of two young pilots following a tragic runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. Captain Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther have been identified as the victims of the crash. Both were described as dedicated professionals at the start of their careers, with Forest having joined Jazz Aviation in 2022 and Gunther being a recent graduate of Seneca College.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal, was completing its landing on Runway 4. The aircraft struck a Port Authority fire truck that was crossing the runway to respond to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight. While both pilots were killed instantly, the 72 passengers and two remaining crew members survived, though 41 people were transported to hospitals. Nine individuals remain hospitalized with serious injuries, including a flight attendant who was miraculously found still strapped into her seat after being ejected from the aircraft during the impact.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators have recovered the "black boxes" and are currently analyzing cockpit voice recordings and flight data. Preliminary findings and leaked air traffic control audio suggest a series of frantic commands in the moments before the collision. A controller was recorded clearing a vehicle to cross the runway while the jet was landing, then repeatedly shouting, "Stop, Truck 1! Stop!" followed by a shaken admission that they had "messed up." The investigation is now heavily focused on human factors, including whether the controller was handling multiple roles due to documented staffing shortages in the tower.

Although LaGuardia Airport officially reopened on Monday afternoon, Runway 4 remains a closed investigation site. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted that the runway is covered in a "tremendous amount of debris" and hazardous materials, meaning it will likely stay shut for several days. Travelers should continue to expect significant disruptions, as the closure has already resulted in the cancellation of over 600 flights and reduced the airport’s total operating capacity.