- Two pilots died in Air Canada jet collision at LaGuardia Airport.
- Flight AC8646 from Montreal hit a fire truck on landing.
- Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther worked for Jazz Aviation.
- 41 people went to hospital with nine serious injuries.
- Investigators recovered black boxes and runway closes until Friday.
The two pilots who died in a collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night have been named. Antoine Forest aged 30 and Mackenzie Gunther lost their lives when flight AC8646 from Montreal landed on the runway travelling at more than 100 miles per hour. The aircraft hit the Port Authority fire truck and destroyed the cockpit.
Both pilots worked for Jazz Aviation a partner of Air Canada that operated the aircraft. Flight attendants told passengers to brace for an emergency landing before the plane began to speed down the runway. A fire truck crossed the runway to aid another plane where passengers reported the smell of smoke.
The jet carried 72 passengers and four crew members with an estimated 41 people taken to hospital and nine sustaining serious injuries. Investigators recovered the black boxes from the jet. The runway stays closed until Friday.
Brian Bedford shared “these were two young men at the start of their careers it is an absolute tragedy that we are sitting here with their loss.”
Cedric Forest shared “have a good flight brother we wished him that so often but this time it will be the last you came and went so quickly always with so many new plans in mind you left us too quickly to say goodbye I love you my brother you can go with your head held high.”
Doug Clarke shared “today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline our employees and most importantly the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646 we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our two pilots and our unwavering support to those who have been injured.”
