Quebec man identified as pilot who died in Air Canada plane crash in New York
One of the two pilots killed in the Air Canada crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York has been named.
Antoine Forest was identified by Quebec media as one of the pilots killed on Sunday night after his plane crashed into a fire truck that crossed directly into the plane’s path during landing.
The flight was en route from Montreal to New York when it collided with a fire truck which was responding to a call to investigate a strange cabin odour in another plane.
According to his Facebook profile, Forest is from Coteau-du-Lac, Que., and flew with Jazz Aviation, an operator of Air Canada flights. The Guardian reported he was 30-years-old.
“It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Antoine Forest, a native of Coteau-du-Lac,” the city said in French in a Facebook post.
“The City of Coteau-du-Lac and the members of the City Council wish to offer their deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and friends. We wish them all the comfort they need to get through this difficult time.”
“Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving flight 8646,” Jazz Aviation president Doug Clarke said in a press release published on Monday, which did not name Forest or the other pilot killed in the incident.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our two pilots and our unwavering support to those who have been injured.”
Forest’s LinkedIn profile shows a long interest in flying. His first listed job was as an assistant engineer with Canadian Helicopters Limited before moving on to successive stints with other Quebec-based airplane outlets as an apprentice and first officer. According to his profile, he was also a trained bush pilot.
Alexandre Circé, a friend and former colleague, told The Montreal Gazette that Forest was drawn to flying as “one of the last true adventurer’s professions.”
“He was very interested in mechanics and how things work, so aviation suited him perfectly,” he said.
“This is a tremendous loss for his family and loved ones, but also for anyone who might have crossed paths with him in the future.”
A colleague of Forest’s at his former employer, Exact Air, gave him a glowing recommendation on LinkedIn, saying it was “a pleasure working with him.”
“Worked with Antoine in the hangar and in the field,” colleague Raphaël Frosio wrote on his profile in March 2022. “Pilot and AME (aircraft maintenance engineer), he is a hard worker, very resourceful. Ready to fix and fly his plane. Always professional and a team player.”
In December 2022, Forest joined Jazz Aviation as a first officer, an airline carrier that works with Air Canada.
“I want to extend my sympathies to the families of the two pilots,” Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) leader Bryan Bedford told the media on Monday without identifying either of the victims. “They were two young men at the start of their careers so it’s an absolute tragedy that we’re sitting here with their loss.”
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