The second Air Canada pilot killed within the LaGuardia Airport crash has been recognized as Mackenzie Gunther – the primary officer alongside pilot Antoine Forest on Air Canada Specific Flight 8646 when it collided with a Port Authority fireplace truck after touchdown, Radio-Canada reported.
Personnel of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) examine the wreckage of an Air Canada Specific jet that collided with a fireplace truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, U.S., March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (REUTERS)
Each Gunther and Forest died within the tragic collision, which occurred when the Air Canada jet was given the go-ahead to land on Runway 4 on the similar time that Port Authority cops have been cleared to drive their fireplace truck throughout the identical runway. The truck was responding to a separate emergency.
Who was Mackenzie Gunther?
Gunther graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Expertise program at Seneca Polytechnic in Canada in 2023, the school mentioned in a press release after the tragedy. “Via the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, he joined Jazz Aviation instantly after commencement and commenced his skilled flying profession. He was the First Officer on the flight, working as Air Canada Specific, from Montreal to New York,” the assertion mentioned.
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It added, “Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gunther’s household and mates, and to his former colleagues and professors. He will likely be deeply missed. To honour the reminiscence of Mr. Gunther, flags at Seneca’s campuses will likely be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday, March 24.”
In the meantime, Runway 4, the place the tragedy occurred, is predicted to stay closed for days. Officers are actually working to clear the “large” quantity of particles, officers mentioned on Monday, March 23.
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About 40 of the 70 passengers and surviving crew members have been rushed to the hospital. Many suffered solely minor accidents.
The Air Line Pilots Affiliation remembered Gunther and Forest as two pilots who have been devoted to the security of the passengers. “At present is an extremely tough day for our airline, our staff, and most significantly, the households and family members of these affected by the accident involving flight 8646,” mentioned Jazz Aviation President Doug Clarke, in accordance with the New York Put up. “We prolong our deepest condolences to the household and mates of our two pilots and our unwavering assist to those that have been injured.”
