On Sunday, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a Port Authority fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring 41 passengers and crew. The flight, from Montreal, carried 72 passengers and four crew members.
Captain Antoine Forest, 29, from Quebec, had trained with Air Saguenay and Canadian Helicopters before joining Jazz Aviation in 2022. First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, a recent graduate of Seneca Polytechnic, had just begun his professional aviation career. Both men were praised by passengers for their efforts during the crash.
Flight audio reveals escalating tension as the crew dealt with an onboard odor emergency, attempted to secure a gate, and coordinated with ground control. Just before impact, the aircraft struck the fire truck at about 24 mph, leaving responders stunned.
LaGuardia was closed for hours, emergency crews treated victims, and investigations are ongoing. Passengers described chaos, long delays, and the traumatic aftermath of witnessing the collision firsthand.