On the night of March 22, 2026, tragedy struck at LaGuardia Airport.

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 — a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation — was completing its landing from Montreal when it collided with a Port Authority fire truck that had entered the runway during an active emergency response.

The impact destroyed the cockpit.

Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunter were killed instantly.

Despite the catastrophic nature of the collision, 72 passengers and the remaining crew survived — a testament to the pilots’ actions, professionalism, and commitment to their duty in the final moments.

In aviation, there are moments that define the profession — moments where training, instinct, and courage converge under unimaginable pressure.

This was one of those moments.

Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunter represent the very best of aviation: discipline, composure, and an unwavering responsibility to protect others. Their sacrifice ensured that a far greater tragedy was avoided.

We are calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to permanently honor their legacy by renaming LaGuardia Airport’s two primary runways after them.

This recognition would:

Honor two pilots who gave their lives in the line of duty
Embed their legacy into one of North America’s busiest aviation hubs
Remind millions of travelers each year of the human commitment behind aviation safety
Stand as a permanent symbol of courage, professionalism, and sacrifice
Runways are where every journey begins and ends. They represent trust — trust placed in pilots to carry lives safely across the sky.

It is only fitting that those who upheld that trust to their final moment be remembered there.

Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunter should not be remembered only in reports or headlines.

Their names should be spoken every day — in control towers, in cockpits, and across the skies they helped protect.

We urge decision-makers to act and ensure their legacy lives on.