Ontario college graduate among Air Canada pilots killed in LaGuardia crash

One of the two Air Canada pilots killed in the collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night was an Ontario college graduate.

According to multiple sources, the pilots have now been identified as Antoine Forest of Coteau-du-Lac, Que., and Mackenzie Gunther, a Seneca Polytechnic graduate.

The college posted an online memorial this week, mourning the loss of the alumnus in the aviation accident.

Gunther graduated from Seneca's Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology (FPR) program, which is based in Peterborough, in 2023. Following his graduation, he joined Jazz Aviation through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program and began his professional flying career.

"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 college's statement reads.

To honour Gunther, who was the co-pilot on the flight, flags at Seneca's campuses were lowered to half-mast on Tuesday.

According to the Star, Forest learned how to fly bush planes in Saguenay before he was hired by Air Canada in 2022.

The two pilots were killed when Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck crossing the runway as the plane landed shortly after 11:40 p.m. on Sunday night.

The aircraft, a CRJ-900, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members from Montreal to New York. Over 40 individuals were transported to the hospital following the accident, and some still remain with serious injuries.

Tonight the CN Tower will dim for 5 minutes at the top of every hour in honour of Air Canada pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther who died in the plane crash at LaGuardia Airport pic.twitter.com/hTc8tLYi9N

— CN Tower / Tour CN (@TourCNTower) March 24, 2026

In honour of the two pilots, the CN Tower is also set to dim its lights for five minutes at the top of every hour.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, along with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.