The two Air Canada pilots killed in the LaGuardia Airport crash have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, according to the BBC. The incident occurred at 23:40 local time on Sunday, when a plane crashed into a fire truck on the airport’s runway, killing the two pilots and injuring 41 others. The airport was closed until Monday afternoon following the crash.

Background of the Pilots

Antoine Forest. Who was 30 years old and from Québec, had learned to fly bush planes in Saguenay in 2018 before being hired by Air Canada in December 2022, according to the Toronto Star. His great aunt. Jeannette Gagnier. Described him as a dedicated individual who had started flying planes at the age of 16. She said he spent summers with her practicing his English to become a pilot.

Mackenzie Gunther. Who graduated from Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto in 2023, was also employed by Air Canada. The college announced that flags at its campus would be lowered to half-mast in his honor. Seneca expressed its condolences to Gunther’s family and friends, stating that he would be deeply missed.

Survivor’s Story

One of the survivors. Air Canada flight attendant Solange Tremblay from Quebec, was ejected from the plane during the crash but miraculously survived — she was found alive strapped to her seat more than 100 meters from the plane, suffering multiple fractures. Her daughter, Sarah Lépine, told local broadcaster TVA Nouvelles that she was seated behind the pilots when the plane landed.

“It’s a complete miracle,” Lépine said. “She had a guardian angel watching over her. It could have been much worse.”

Tremblay’s survival has been described as a miracle by those close to her, highlighting the severity of the crash and the unpredictable nature of such incidents. She was among the 41 injured individuals taken to the hospital following the accident.

Investigation Details

Investigators on Tuesday released details from the final three minutes of cockpit voice recordings and tower communications, revealing that air traffic controllers had cleared both the plane and a fire truck to cross the runway. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the inquiry was ongoing and would include interviews with the two controllers on duty on Sunday night.

Homendy noted that a ground radar system, which could have provided an alert before the collision, failed to do so. The fire truck also lacked a transponder, which would have helped the radar system detect it. She criticized the U.S. air traffic control system as being “old” and in need of an upgrade.

“Controllers should have all the information and the tools to do their job,” Homendy said. “You have to have information on the ground movements, whether that’s aircraft or vehicles… this is 2026.”

She added that air traffic controllers had long raised concerns about under-staffing, describing the tower as a “high-workload environment” where, when something goes wrong, “many things have gone wrong.”

During the incident, an air traffic controller was heard saying: “Truck One, stop, stop, stop!” seconds before the crash, according to reports. This moment has become a key point of focus in the ongoing investigation.

The crash has sparked renewed interest in the safety of air traffic control systems and the need for modernization. With the U.S. air traffic control system facing criticism, the incident at LaGuardia has become a significant case study for experts and officials alike.

“These were two young men at the start of their career, so it’s an absolute tragedy that we’re sitting here with their loss,” said Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bran Bedford, highlighting the personal impact of the incident.

The crash has not only affected the families of the pilots but also raised concerns about the safety of air travel and the working conditions of air traffic controllers. The incident has brought to light the need for improved technology and staffing in air traffic control towers.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to release more findings in the coming weeks, and the FAA has pledged to review the incident thoroughly. The crash has also prompted calls for increased investment in air traffic control infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.