Mackenzie Gunther, Obituary, LaGuardia Airport, Crash Death: Mackenzie Gunther HAs Died In A Fatal Crash

 

Authorities have confirmed that Mackenzie Gunther was the second pilot who lost his life in a deadly runway collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft at LaGuardia Airport. The tragic accident occurred late Sunday night and is currently under federal investigation.

Gunther, a 2023 graduate of Seneca College’s Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program, began his aviation career through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program before joining Jazz Aviation as a first officer. He operated regional flights under the Air Canada Express network.

At the time of the crash, Gunther was serving as first officer on Air Canada Express Flight 646, traveling from Montreal to New York. He was alongside Captain Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Québec. Both pilots died when their Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft collided with a Port Authority fire truck that had entered the runway.

Early reports suggest the aircraft was moving at roughly 150 miles per hour during heavy rainfall when the collision occurred. The impact caused significant damage to both the aircraft and the fire vehicle, leading to a major emergency response. In total, 41 people were taken to nearby hospitals, including firefighters and a flight attendant who was thrown from the aircraft. There were 72 passengers and four crew members on board.

Investigators say the fire truck had permission to cross the runway while responding to another aircraft issue. Air traffic control recordings indicate that controllers attempted to warn the vehicle moments before the crash, but the alert came too late.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated a comprehensive investigation and has recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for detailed examination. Officials are reviewing all factors, including air traffic control actions and runway procedures.

Authorities continue to analyze evidence and communications to establish the precise sequence of events leading up to the collision. The findings are expected to contribute to future aviation safety improvements.