MACKENZIE GUNTHER, has been formally identified as the second pilot killed in the fatal runway collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft at LaGuardia Airport, as officials and institutions continue to release new details about the victims and circumstances surrounding the crash.
Gunther, a recent graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program at Seneca College, completed his studies in 2023 before entering the aviation industry through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program. He joined Jazz Aviation shortly thereafter, beginning his professional career as a first officer on regional operations under the Air Canada Express banner.
On the night of the incident, Gunther was serving as first officer aboard Air Canada Express Flight 646, operating from Montreal to New York, alongside captain Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Québec. Both pilots were killed upon impact when their Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft collided with a Port Authority fire truck that had entered the runway.
Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft was traveling at approximately 150 miles per hour at the time of the collision, which occurred during heavy rainfall late Sunday night. Surveillance footage captured the violent impact, including a large spray of water as the aircraft struck the vehicle, sending the fire truck careening across the runway and causing catastrophic damage to both.
The crash resulted in a significant emergency response, with 41 individuals transported to area hospitals for treatment. Among the injured were two firefighters inside the truck at the time of impact, as well as a flight attendant who was ejected from the aircraft during the collision. The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, and aviation experts have noted that the outcome could have been far more severe had the aircraft’s fuel systems been directly impacted.
According to investigators, the fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate aircraft experiencing an onboard issue, reportedly involving a strong odor that was affecting crew members. Audio recordings from air traffic control reveal that controllers urgently attempted to halt the vehicle moments before the collision, issuing repeated commands to stop as the conflict became apparent, but the warning came too late.
In communications immediately following the crash, an air traffic controller can be heard instructing the flight—“JAZZ 646”—to hold position while emergency responders were dispatched, acknowledging the severity of the situation. Images from the scene show extensive destruction, with the fire truck heavily damaged and the forward section of the aircraft, including the nose, completely torn away.
The incident forced a temporary closure of LaGuardia Airport, which later reopened at reduced capacity as crews worked to secure and clear the wreckage. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation into the crash, with Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy confirming that both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered.
Investigators accessed the devices by cutting into the aircraft’s structure, and initial assessments indicate the cockpit voice recorder remains intact for analysis at NTSB laboratories in Washington, D.C. The investigation will also examine operational factors, including air traffic control staffing levels at the time of the incident. Reports have suggested that a controller may have been managing multiple positions simultaneously, though officials emphasize that such information must be verified through records, interviews, and timekeeping data.
Sean Duffy has publicly disputed claims of staffing irregularities while announcing potential measures to address broader workforce shortages. Federal authorities continue to analyze physical evidence, recorded communications, and operational procedures to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the collision, with findings expected to inform future safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
