Air Canada Co-Pilot Mackenzie Gunther Identified as Seneca Polytechnic Graduate
The co-pilot of the Air Canada Express flight that collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Sunday night has been officially identified as Mackenzie Gunther. Gunther was a recent graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, having completed the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program in 2023.
Seneca Polytechnic Mourns the Loss of Alumnus
In a heartfelt in memoriam note posted on its website, Seneca Polytechnic expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of Mackenzie Gunther. The institution confirmed that Gunther graduated from its aviation technology program last year and had embarked on his professional flying career immediately after graduation through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program. He served as the First Officer on the flight, which was operating as Air Canada Express from Montreal to New York at the time of the accident.
The school announced that its flags would be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect and remembrance for Gunther. Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gunther’s family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors. He will be deeply missed, the statement read, highlighting the profound impact of his passing on the academic and aviation communities.
Details of the LaGuardia Airport Crash
The fatal collision occurred just before midnight on Sunday, involving a CRJ-900 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation. The plane, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, touched down on runway four at LaGuardia Airport. According to air traffic control recordings, a controller had cleared an airport fire truck to cross the runway to respond to a separate emergency. However, the controller repeatedly issued stop commands moments before the aircraft broadsided the vehicle.
In addition to Mackenzie Gunther, the pilot of the plane, Antoine Forest, was also killed in the crash. Forest, a 30-year-old from Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, was identified by Quebec media shortly after the incident. More than 40 individuals were transported to hospitals for treatment following the accident, though flight attendant Solange Tremblay miraculously survived, as confirmed by her daughter.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Response
An investigation into the crash is currently underway, led by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board with assistance from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The probe aims to determine the exact causes and circumstances surrounding the collision, which has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and beyond.
In Montreal, flags were observed flying at half-mast outside Air Canada headquarters on Monday, reflecting the somber mood within the company and the broader community. The incident underscores the risks and challenges faced by aviation professionals, while also highlighting the tight-knit nature of the industry where losses are felt deeply across borders.
As the investigation progresses, tributes continue to pour in for Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest, celebrating their contributions to aviation and mourning their untimely deaths. The aviation community remains united in support of the victims' families and colleagues during this difficult time.
