Mackenzie Gunther: First Officer Killed in LaGuardia Crash

The roar of a jet engine, the routine of a landing approach — and then, a tragedy that cut short a young pilot’s promising career. First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, just 24 years old, was one of the two pilots killed when an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026 Reuters (news agency).

Age at death: 24 ·
Date of incident: March 23, 2026 ·
Location: LaGuardia Airport, New York ·
Role: First Officer ·
Airline: Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation) ·
Captain: Antoine Forest, 30

Ten key identifiers, one pattern: they confirm a young Canadian aviator whose career was just taking off. Here are the verified details about First Officer Mackenzie Gunther.

What happened to Mackenzie Gunther?

The LaGuardia runway collision

• On March 23, 2026, Air Canada Express Flight 7639, a CRJ-900 flown by Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, struck a fire truck on the runway during landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (BBC News (international news outlet)).
• The collision occurred around 11:40–11:47 p.m. local time, according to early reporting (Reuters (news agency)).
• The fire truck was responding to a separate incident aboard another aircraft at the airport (Global News (Canadian news outlet)).
• The crash killed both pilots and the fire truck driver, and injured at least 41 people (BBC News).
• LaGuardia Airport was closed for more than 12 hours after the incident (ABC News (U.S. network)).

Fatalities identified

• The victims were identified by the New York medical examiner and the airline as Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther (BBC News).
• The medical examiner ruled the pilots’ causes of death as blunt force injuries (ABC News).
• The destroyed aircraft and fire truck were removed from the crash site several days later (Global News).

The implication: the collision was a multi-fatality event that will be studied for years. The NTSB’s early finding that a runway warning system did not alert before the impact raises urgent questions about ground safety procedures at LaGuardia (ABC News).

How old was Mackenzie Gunther first officer?

Age at time of death

• Mackenzie Gunther was 24 years old at the time of his death, confirmed by multiple sources including CBC News (Canadian broadcaster).

Birth date

• He was born on September 14, 2001 in Ottawa, Ontario (CBC News).

Why this matters: at 24, Gunther had already earned commercial pilot qualifications and was flying as a first officer for a major regional carrier. His age underscores how early in his career the tragedy struck.

Was Mackenzie Gunther the first officer?

Role on the flight

• Mackenzie Gunther was the first officer (co-pilot) on the Air Canada Express flight (Reuters).
• The captain was Antoine Forest, age 30 (BBC News).

Distinction from captain

• Gunther was not the captain; he was the first officer, the second-in-command.
• Both pilots shared the cockpit, but the captain has overall command responsibility.

The pattern: while the public often focuses on the captain, Gunther’s role as first officer shows that the tragedy claimed two aviators, each with different levels of experience.

When did Mackenzie Gunther get married?

Marriage to Hannah

• Mackenzie Gunther was married to Hannah, as confirmed by obituaries and tributes (CBC News).
• The exact date of marriage is not publicly confirmed.

Surviving spouse

• Hannah is listed as his wife in obituaries and tributes, making her his surviving spouse.
• Whether the couple had children is not confirmed by public sources.

The catch: personal details like the wedding date remain private, which is common for non-public figures. The family’s grief is shared through careful statements, not public records.

Who was the pilot killed at LaGuardia?

Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest

• Mackenzie Gunther was one of the two pilots killed in the LaGuardia runway collision (BBC News).
• The other pilot was Captain Antoine Forest (Reuters).

Identification by authorities

• Both were identified by the New York medical examiner and the airline (ABC News).
• Their bodies were repatriated to Canada (Global News).

The trade-off: identifying the victims quickly allowed the aviation community to begin mourning, but the investigation into the cause remains incomplete, leaving families with unanswered questions.

Timeline of Mackenzie Gunther’s life and the LaGuardia crash

Six milestones, one trajectory: from an Ottawa birth to a fatal runway. Here is the sequence of events.

The implication: Gunther’s aviation career was less than three years from first training to first officer. The rapid ascent underscores the loss of a talented young pilot.

Clarity: What is known and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Mackenzie Gunther was 24 years old at death.
• He died on March 23, 2026.
• He was the first officer on the flight.
• He was married to Hannah.
• He was a graduate of Seneca College’s aviation program.
• The collision involved an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a fire truck.

What’s unclear

• Exact cause of the collision – under NTSB investigation (ABC News).
• Exact date of marriage is not publicly known.
• Whether he had children is not confirmed.
• Details of the funeral service are not fully public.

Voices from the aviation community

“Too soon for us to say goodbye.”

— Brother of a Quebec pilot killed in the crash (likely Antoine Forest’s brother), as quoted by CBC News

“We honour the lives and service of Jazz Aviation pilots Capt. Antoine Forest and F/O Mackenzie Gunther.”

— Statement from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), published April 20, 2026 (CBC News)

These tributes, along with a memorial at Montreal’s Jacques-de-Lesseps spotting area, reflect the deep impact on the aviation community (CBC News).

For the families of Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest, the loss of two pilots in the LaGuardia runway collision is a tragedy that will not soon be forgotten. The NTSB’s investigation is the next chapter — and for the industry, the safety lessons that follow will determine whether another young first officer ever faces the same risk.

Frequently asked questions