Air Canada Pilots Identified Following LaGuardia Crash
The two Air Canada pilots killed when a plane crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday have been identified as Antoine Forest, 30, and Mackenzie Gunther. The incident, which occurred at 23:40 local time, injured 41 people and temporarily shut down the New York airport until Monday afternoon.
Pilot Backgrounds
Antoine Forest, originally from Québec, began his aviation journey learning to fly bush planes in Saguenay in 2018. He was hired by Air Canada in December 2022 BBC. His great aunt, Jeannette Gagnier, fondly recalled his dedication to becoming a pilot, noting he practiced his English diligently and flew his first plane at the age of 16 BBC.
Mackenzie Gunther was a recent graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, having completed his studies in 2023 BBC. Seneca Polytechnic stated that flags at the campus would be lowered to half-mast in his memory BBC.
Details of the Crash and Survival
The crash resulted in 41 injuries, with those affected receiving hospital treatment BBC. Remarkably, Air Canada flight attendant Solange Tremblay survived being ejected from the plane during the collision and was found alive, strapped to her seat over 100 metres (300ft) from the wreckage, though she sustained multiple fractures BBC, Instagram. Her daughter, Sarah Lépine, reported that Tremblay was seated behind the pilots at the time of the landing BBC.
Investigation and Response
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bran Bedford described the loss of the two young pilots as a tragedy, emphasizing that they were at the beginning of their careers BBC. The incident is currently under investigation.
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