Local News
Correct photo of Mackenzie Gunther, pilot killed in Air Canada crash at LaGuardia
Mackenzie Gunther served as the First Officer aboard Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operating from Montreal to New York.
A graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program at Seneca Polytechnic in 2023, Gunther entered the aviation industry through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, joining Jazz Aviation immediately after completing his studies.
He was at the early stages of what colleagues and instructors described as a promising professional flying career.
Prior to this, he received aviation training at Cégep de Chicoutimi and gained experience with regional operators, including Air Saguenay and Exact Air.
Gunther was among the crew members killed in the fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, alongside Captain Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Québec.
The aircraft had landed and was decelerating on the runway when it collided with a Port Authority fire truck.
Despite the catastrophic nature of the crash, passengers later credited the flight crew’s actions in the final moments—particularly rapid braking—with helping to reduce the overall severity of the incident and prevent a higher loss of life.
In the wake of the tragedy, Bryan Bedford referred to the two pilots as “two young men at the start of their careers,” underscoring the profound loss to the aviation community.
Seneca Polytechnic also issued a formal statement mourning Gunther’s death, extending condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and colleagues.
In tribute, flags across Seneca campuses were lowered to half-mast.
Following the incident, a significant amount of misinformation circulated online regarding Gunther’s identity.
In the immediate aftermath, some reports incorrectly identified him as a woman, and unrelated images were widely shared by various outlets and social media accounts.
These inaccuracies prompted colleagues and members of the aviation community to call for the removal of incorrect photos and the dissemination of verified information.
At present, only limited confirmed public details and imagery have been released by credible sources.
Captain Antoine Forest, who also lost his life in the crash, was a Québec native who began flying at a young age and built his career through regional aviation before advancing to the flight deck of a commercial regional jet.
Together, both pilots represented a new generation of aviation professionals whose careers were tragically cut short.
The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the collision. Multiple passengers sustained injuries, though many have since been treated and released from hospital.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under active investigation as federal authorities work to determine the precise sequence of events and contributing factors.
As the aviation community continues to process this loss, tributes have poured in from colleagues, institutions, and industry professionals worldwide.
Rest in peace, Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest.
Members of the global aviation community are encouraged to share messages of support and solidarity for the families, friends, and colleagues of both pilots during this difficult time.
Local News
Shaun Martin Holt, 37, and Dayna Rae McBride, 36, Killed in Beryl Highway Crash That Also Claimed Two Dogs
A devastating collision on Beryl Highway in Iron County, Utah, has claimed the lives of two people and their two beloved dogs, leaving their families and the surrounding community mourning an unimaginable loss.
Authorities identified the victims as 37-year-old Shaun Martin Holt, who was driving the sedan, and 36-year-old Dayna Rae McBride, his passenger. The two dogs traveling with them inside the vehicle also died at the scene.
According to the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal crash happened when a sedan traveling eastbound approached an intersection on Beryl Highway and collided with a school bus heading north. The force of the impact caused the bus to overturn, turning the collision into a serious emergency.
Investigators identified Holt and McBride as the two occupants of the sedan who lost their lives in the crash. Their deaths have brought profound sadness to those who knew them, while the loss of their two dogs has added another heartbreaking dimension to the tragedy.
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision. However, authorities have not announced a final determination regarding the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials will need to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Although the school bus was involved in a serious collision, no children were aboard at the time.
According to the information released, the bus had already completed its student drop-off route for the Escalante Valley Elementary School District. Only the bus driver and a bus aide were inside the vehicle when the crash occurred.
Both were injured and transported to area hospitals for treatment. Their conditions have not been publicly released.
The fact that no students were on the bus was a significant relief amid an otherwise devastating incident. Nevertheless, the driver and aide now face recovery from injuries sustained in the collision.
The Iron County School District released a statement expressing concern for the injured school transportation employees and offering condolences to the families of those who died.
“Our thoughts are with the bus driver and aide who are being treated at area hospitals for their injuries. We also extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family of those who died in this accident,” the district stated.
The district also noted that this was the third school-bus-related accident reported during the year and the second fatal one in 2026, making the incident particularly painful for the local community.
Authorities continue working to determine exactly what led to the collision at the Beryl Highway intersection. While witness accounts reportedly described the sedan as traveling at a high rate of speed, the precise cause has not yet been officially established.
Investigators will examine the available evidence as they work to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. Further details may be released as the investigation progresses.
The deaths of Shaun Martin Holt and Dayna Rae McBride represent two lives lost far too soon. They were traveling together with their two dogs when the collision occurred, and all four were lost in the tragedy.
For their loved ones, the loss is immeasurable. Family members and friends are now left with grief, memories, and the difficult task of moving forward without them.
The crash has also affected the school bus driver and aide who were injured, as well as the wider Escalante Valley community.
Please keep the families and friends of Shaun Holt and Dayna McBride in your thoughts, along with the injured bus driver and aide and everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident.
May Shaun Martin Holt, Dayna Rae McBride, and their two beloved dogs rest in peace. May their families find comfort, strength, and support during this difficult time.