They came from opposite ends of Canada, with very different paths to the cockpit.
But on Sunday evening, fate put them on the same flight — and what passengers later shared about them is a story no obituary could capture.
The tragic plane crash at LaGuardia Airport has shaken people across the U.S. and around the world.
And behind the headlines and news reports, there are real lives lost and grieving families. The Air Canada Express CRJ-900, which collided with a fire truck on the runway late Sunday, had two pilots on board.
Both were killed in the crash, and 41 people were sent to the hospital.
Amid the chaos of the crash, the pilots reportedly did everything possible to save the lives of everyone on the plane and the firefighters on the runway. In those last critical moments, the pilots engaged reverse thrust, an effort that may have averted even more tragedy.
More and more details are emerging about who these men were — their origins, the paths they took, and the immense effort it took to reach the cockpit. A passenger, still shaken from the tarmac, also shared words that cast the tragedy in an entirely new light.
Antoine Forest: A life in the air
At the controls was Antoine Forest, 29, a Quebec native from the small town of Coteau-du-Lac.
With just 7,800 residents, Coteau-du-Lac is ”the kind of place where everyone knows someone connected to the family”, Mayor Andrée Brosseau told The Canadian Press. Forest’s death has deeply shaken the close-knit community.
His journey to the cockpit was anything but straight: he started flying bush planes with Air Saguenay while training as an aircraft maintenance apprentice, moved on to Canadian Helicopters Limited, then to Exact Air where he rose from apprentice to captain.
His great-aunt, Jeannette Gagnier, shared memories of the young pilot, recalling how he and his brother spent summers with her while he worked on his English, determined to pursue a career in aviation.
“He was unstoppable,” she said. “Always studying, always flying. He flew his very first plane when he was just 16. Today is such a heartbreaking day…”
By December 2022, Forest joined Jazz Aviation LP as a first officer, the position he held at the time of the crash.
Off-duty, Forest lived fully: hiking, kayaking, sailing, and rock climbing.
He had been in a relationship with Kahina Gagnon, herself a professional pilot and Canadian Armed Forces officer.
Just a few days after the tragic accident, Kahina updated her Facebook with a photo of herself and Antoine, captioned: “The love of my life.”
Cédric Forest, Antoine’s brother, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook Monday night.
“Have a good flight, my brother!” he wrote. “Oh yes, we’ve heard that phrase often, but this time it will be the last. You were always coming and going, always full of new projects. You left us again, too soon to say goodbye.
”I love you, my brother,” he added. “You can leave with your head held high.”
Mackenzie Gunther: Just beginning his journey
Beside Forest in the cockpit was Mackenzie Gunther, a young aviator fresh out of Seneca Polytechnic, where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology in 2023.
Through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, he moved directly into the first officer role — Flight 2384 was part of a new, promising chapter in his life.
”Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr Gunther’s family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors. He will be deeply missed”, the college said in a statement.
Gunther’s path had been grounded in steady, unglamorous work: co-op stints at Porter Airlines and seasonal landscaping, quietly building toward his dream. His alma mater mourned him publicly, lowering flags across campuses.
The owner of a Toronto coffee shop wher Mackenzie Gunther was a regular shared his heartbreak with The New York Post on Tuesday.
“When I didn’t hear back after a day, I thought it isn’t a good sign,” said Daniel Biro, owner and roaster of Rapid Ends Coffee in Peterborough, Ontario.
“MacKenzie was an amazing young man. He just graduated a couple years ago. He was a regular here every week while he was in school,” Biro added, noting that the pilot had recently married.
Over the years, Biro said he would occasionally chat with Gunther about flying, seeing firsthand how the young pilot had been “really excited” to pursue his dream.
“That was his passion, flying. It was a life taken too young,” Biro said. “He had his whole life for him. It’s super tragic.”
Passengers remember the pilots’ heroism
The harrowing audio from air traffic control paints a vivid picture of the chaos: rapid instructions, urgent decisions, and a final, desperate attempt to avoid collision. Every word underscores the impossibly fast thinking and calm professionalism of the two men in the cockpit.
In Montreal, Coteau-du-Lac, and at Seneca Polytechnic, friends, family, and colleagues are left grappling with grief. Yet even amid the tragedy, the pilots’ bravery shines through. They faced a moment of unimaginable danger and acted with skill, courage, and selflessness — qualities that saved countless lives.
As one passenger reflected, “They are heroes ❤️.” And indeed, for those who survived, the lives of Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther will never be forgotten.
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