Authorities Identify Second Pilot Involved in New York Airport Incident

New details are emerging after a deadly runway collision in New York. Authorities have now identified both pilots as investigators work to understand what happened in the final moments.

A routine landing turned into a nightmare of fire, metal, and desperation. As the dust begins to settle on the horrific LaGuardia Airport crash that claimed two lives, authorities have revealed the identity of the second pilot killed in the devastating collision.

Mackenzie Gunther, a young first officer just beginning his aviation journey, has been named as the co-pilot aboard Air Canada Express Flight 8646 — the ill-fated aircraft that slammed into a Port Authority fire truck late Sunday night. He was flying alongside pilot Antoine Forest when tragedy struck in a matter of seconds. Both pilots were killed instantly.

A Rising Star Cut Down in Her Prime

Gunther had only just stepped into the world he had worked so hard to reach. A 2023 graduate of Seneca Polytechnic's Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program in Ontario, he had recently transitioned into commercial aviation through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program — a milestone that marked the start of what should have been a long and promising career.

"He joined Jazz Aviation immediately after graduation and began his professional flying career," the school said, extending condolences to his family and colleagues.

Instead, that journey was cut brutally short. The chain of events that led to the catastrophic collision is now under intense scrutiny. The aircraft had been cleared to land on Runway 4. At the very same time, a fire truck had been authorized to cross that exact runway — responding to an unrelated emergency.

Then came the chilling warning. Air traffic control audio captured a controller urgently shouting, "Stop, stop, stop," — a desperate plea that came just moments too late.

Video from the scene paints a harrowing picture. The aircraft barreled into the vehicle, overturning the truck and violently crushing the front of the plane. Inside, chaos erupted. Passengers and crew were thrown into a terrifying fight for survival.

Dozens were injured — though miraculously, most sustained only minor injuries. Several were hospitalized but later released. Two Port Authority officers inside the truck survived. And in a moment that defies belief, flight attendant Solange Tremblay also survived — after being hurled from the aircraft while still strapped into her seat.

Grief and Gratitude Collide

Gunther and Forest both worked for Jazz Aviation, which operated the flight under Air Canada Express. Now, tributes are pouring in. The Air Line Pilots Association described the loss as profound, emphasizing that both pilots were deeply committed to passenger safety.

Meanwhile, investigators are grappling with the haunting question: how were two conflicting clearances issued at the same time? Runway 4 remains closed as officials comb through the wreckage.

The aircraft involved — a CRJ-900 operated by Air Canada Express — had been carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. It had departed from Montreal. It never completed its journey; instead, it became the center of one of the most shocking aviation incidents in recent memory.

The tragedy comes at a time when the U.S. aviation system is already under immense pressure. Officials have pointed to ongoing shortages of air traffic controllers, alongside staffing gaps within the Transportation Security Administration linked to a partial government shutdown.

The result? Delays, longer lines, and mounting strain across major airports. Earlier that same Monday, chaos struck again. Newark Liberty International Airport issued a 35-minute ground stop after controllers evacuated their tower due to a burning smell coming from an elevator, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

'An Incredibly Difficult Day'

As the aviation world reels, airline officials are struggling to process the loss. "Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline… and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected," said Jazz Aviation president Doug Clarke.

Authorities have also provided updates on the injured. Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia said that 32 of the 41 injured individuals were released from the hospital, while nine remained hospitalized with serious injuries. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added that at least two Port Authority firefighters were among those seriously hurt.

As investigators work to piece together the final seconds before impact, survivors are beginning to speak out — and their accounts are nothing short of chilling. Rebecca Liquori, who was on board the flight, believes the pilots' actions made the difference between life and death.

"I felt like the pilots saved our lives," she told CNN. "They're the reasons I was able to make it home safe to see my boys." She described how everything unfolded in mere seconds. "In those few seconds I thought… I'm never going to see them again," she said, referring to her two young sons.

When she survived, the emotion was overwhelming. "I was just very thankful when I opened my eyes," she said. Another passenger, identified as Joe, found himself in the middle of the chaos — seated in an exit row as panic spread through the cabin. "I opened the door… stepped out onto the wing," he said, recalling how quickly first responders arrived.

Even in the aftermath, he remained certain of one thing. "Whatever they did at the end… they saved everybody on board," he said. "I will be forever grateful to them." Those words now echo as a haunting tribute to two pilots who lost their lives — and may have prevented a far greater tragedy.

The Search for Answers Intensifies

Behind the scenes, investigators are racing against time. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed that teams worked alongside the Port Authority and emergency responders to recover critical evidence.

Crews were forced to cut through part of the aircraft's roof to retrieve both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. So far, there is one small relief. "Hopefully, we will have enough information to share," Homendy said. She confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder was not damaged.

However, analysis of the flight data recorder is still ongoing. The scene itself remains overwhelming. "There's a lot of debris," Homendy said, noting that Runway 4 will stay closed as cleanup and investigative efforts continue. Every fragment, every recording, every second of data now holds the key to understanding how such a catastrophic failure of coordination could occur.

And as investigators dig deeper, one truth is already painfully clear: Two lives have been lost, and dozens more were forever changed. And in the final moments before impact, amid chaos and confusion, two pilots may have made decisions that saved everyone else on board.