Mackenzie Gunther: Air Canada First Officer Killed in Crash

When a promising young pilot steps off the tarmac for the last time, the grief cuts through an entire community. First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, 24, died on March 23, 2026, when his Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport.

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

Here are eight key facts, each backed by official sources.

What happened to Mackenzie Gunther?

Details of the crash

• On March 23, 2026, an Air Canada Express regional jet arriving from Montreal collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport (ABC7 News).
• About 40 of the roughly 70 passengers and crew were taken to hospitals; two people from the fire truck were also injured (ABC7 News).
• Federal officials later said a runway warning system failed to sound an alarm moments before impact (ABC7 News).

Victims identification

• The names of the two pilots were released by officials on March 24, 2026 (ABC7 News).
• Passenger Clément Lelièvre later credited Gunther and Forest’s “incredible reflexes” with helping save lives (ABC7 News).

The implication: even as the crash claimed the pilots, their training and split-second actions may have prevented a much higher death toll.

How old was the pilot Mackenzie Gunther?

Age at time of death

• Mackenzie Gunther was 24 years old at the time of the crash, confirmed by multiple sources including his obituary and media reports (ABC7 News).

Birth information

• He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, according to his obituary (CBC).
• He graduated from Seneca College’s Honors Bachelor of Aviation Technology program in 2023 and immediately joined the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program (ABC7 News).

The pattern: a fast-track career from college to first officer, cut short just three years after graduation.

When did Mackenzie Gunther get married?

Marriage date

• His obituary lists his wife as Hannah Gunther, but the specific marriage date has not been widely reported (CBC).
• No official records or family statements have clarified the wedding date as of late March 2026.

Wife’s identity

• Hannah Gunther is named in the obituary as his surviving spouse (CBC).

The catch: while the marriage is confirmed, the timeline of when they wed remains private — a gap that fuels online speculation.

Fact check: Photo of Air Canada pilot Mackenzie Gunther

Origin of the photo

• Multiple photos have circulated online claiming to depict Mackenzie Gunther (CBC).
• The CBC fact-check found that some of these images are of a different female Canadian commercial pilot also named MacKenzie Gunther (CBC).

Confusion with another pilot

• The female MacKenzie Gunther is a living pilot, not to be confused with the deceased First Officer (CBC).
• Social media posts on Facebook and TikTok have spread these misleading images (Facebook; TikTok).

The trade-off: public appetite for a face to the tragedy has collided with a coincidental name match, creating a misinformation trap that family and newsrooms now have to manage.

Obituary of First Officer Mackenzie Gunther

Early life and education

• Born in Ottawa, Ontario (CBC).
• Graduated from Seneca College’s Honors Bachelor of Aviation Technology in 2023 (ABC7 News).

Career at Air Canada

• Joined Jazz Aviation Pathways Program immediately after graduation in 2023 (ABC7 News).
• He was flying as First Officer on Air Canada Express (operated by Jazz) at the time of his death (ABC7 News).

The pattern: Mackenzie Gunther’s trajectory — from an Ottawa childhood to a Seneca aviation degree to the right seat of a regional jet — mirrors the path of many Canadian pilots, making his loss feel particularly close for the industry.

Timeline

• March 23, 2026 — Plane crash at LaGuardia Airport (ABC7 News)
• March 24, 2026 — Names of pilots released by officials and reported by BBC (CBC)
• March 25, 2026 (approx.) — Obituary published by Cole Funeral Services (CBC)

The rapid release of information reflects the public urgency to confirm the pilots’ identities.

Clarity section

These distinctions help readers separate verified facts from ongoing unknowns.

Quotes

First Officer MacKenzie Gunther, 24, unexpectedly passed much too soon on March 23rd in LaGuardia, New York.

— Obituary of MacKenzie Gunther, published by Cole Funeral Services (CBC)

Pilots killed in LaGuardia plane crash named.

— BBC News (ABC7 News)

These quotes from the obituary and BBC News provide official framing of the tragedy.

Summary

Mackenzie Gunther’s death at 24 is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of even the most trained professionals in aviation. For the Canadian aviation community — from Seneca College alumni to Air Canada and Jazz crews — the choice is clear: honor the lives of Gunther and Forest by pressing for answers about the failed warning system, or risk the same gaps taking the next crew.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers address common queries about the crash and the pilot.