Isabelle Holt || Editor-in-Chief || Issue 17
Authorities have identified the two pilots killed in a late night runway collision at LaGuardia Airport as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, both early in their aviation careers.
The crash occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, when a regional passenger flight operated by Jazz Aviation, an Air Canada Express carrier, collided with an airport fire truck while on the runway. The flight had departed from Montreal and was carrying dozens of passengers. In total, 41 people were injured and transported to local hospitals. Operations at the airport were suspended until Monday afternoon.
Air Canada Plane after crash, CNN
Officials described the loss of the two pilots as particularly tragic given their youth and promising futures. Forest, 30, was originally from Québec and had pursued aviation from a young age, beginning his flying experience as a teenager and later training on bush planes in the Saguenay region. He joined Jazz Aviation in late 2022.
Gunther, a recent graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, had only recently begun his professional career as a pilot. The institution announced it would lower flags to half-mast in his memory, expressing condolences to his family and former classmates.
Among the survivors was a flight attendant who was ejected from the aircraft during the crash yet remarkably survived. She was discovered still strapped to her seat some distance from the wreckage and is currently being treated for multiple injuries. Family members described her survival as extraordinary.
The collision also injured two firefighters who were inside the truck at the time of impact. Audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there were urgent attempts to halt the vehicle moments before the crash.
Preliminary findings from investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board indicate that both the aircraft and the fire truck had been cleared to access the same runway. Officials are examining a range of contributing factors, including communication procedures and equipment limitations.
Investigators have also pointed to potential technological shortcomings. A ground radar system designed to detect runway conflicts did not provide a warning, and the fire vehicle reportedly lacked a transponder that could have improved its visibility to controllers.
Speaking on the broader context, transportation officials emphasized the need for modernization within the U.S. air traffic control system. Concerns have also been raised about staffing levels and workload pressures in control towers, particularly during busy or complex operations.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to review cockpit recordings, air traffic communications, and operational protocols. No final determination has been made regarding the cause of the accident.
The Hudsonian 