The second pilot who tragically lost his life when an Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a firetruck at New York City's LaGuardia Airport has now been officially identified. MacKenzie Gunther served as the first officer on Air Canada Express Flight 646, which originated from Montreal on Sunday evening.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Gunther was working alongside the pilot, Antoine Forest, aged 30, from Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec. Both aviators were killed instantly upon impact when their Bombardier CRJ-900 jet landed on the runway. The crash occurred at the precise moment a fire truck, responding to an incident involving another aircraft, crossed directly into the plane's path on the tarmac.
Critical Factors in the Collision
The aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of approximately 150 miles per hour when it struck the emergency vehicle during a period of heavy rainfall. Surveillance footage captured the dramatic moment of impact, showing a massive splash of water as the collision violently sent the fire truck careening across the runway surface.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the flight at the time of the accident. Aviation experts have noted that the death toll could have been significantly higher if the fire truck had collided with the aircraft's fuel storage areas, potentially causing a catastrophic explosion.
Ongoing Investigation and Updates
This remains a developing news story, and further details are expected to emerge as investigators continue their work to determine the exact sequence of events and contributing factors that led to this tragic airport incident.
