10 Photos of Antoine Forest: The Hero Pilot Who Saved Passengers in LaGuardia Plane Crash

What witnesses described as heroic last-second manoeuvres defined the final moments inside the cockpit of Air Canada Flight AC8646. As the regional jet barrelled down a LaGuardia runway toward an obstructed path, First Officer Antoine Forest and his colleague reportedly executed a series of emergency actions that spared the lives of everyone in the cabin but their own.

Forest was among the pilots killed in the accident. While the aviation community mourns the loss of two dedicated aviators, the story of Forest's final moments in the cockpit is providing a small measure of comfort to those he left behind.

The Life of Antoine Forest

Antoine Forest, 30, was a man whose life was defined by a singular passion for flying and a love for the outdoors. Raised in Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, Forest began his aviation journey at the age of 16, learning to pilot bush planes in the Canadian wilderness.

His great aunt, Jeannette Gagnier, recalled a young man who was as devoted to his family as he was to his career. Forest had even worked to improve his English to broaden his opportunities as a pilot. 'He flew his first plane when he was 16 years old,' Gagnier said. 'He was always taking courses and flying. He never stopped.'

Forest's Facebook profile offers a glimpse into his personality, featuring images of outdoor adventures, including swimming and hiking. His identification as one of the deceased has left a void in the tight-knit community of Coteau-du-Lac, where he was known for his gentle nature and relentless work ethic.

The second pilot has not yet been publicly identified. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed that both pilots were young men early in their careers. 'These were two young men at the start of their careers, so it's an absolute tragedy that we're sitting here with their loss,' Bedford said at a press conference.

The Last-Second Manoeuvres That Prevented Total Disaster

The 72 passengers on board owe their lives to the decisive actions taken by Forest and his colleague. Survivors recalled the sensation of the aircraft reversing with extreme force in the seconds before and after impact. 'We had just touched down, and maybe about 30 seconds later, we all felt a jolt forward, then a loud bang, and what felt like sliding sideways down the runway,' one passenger shared. 'Someone did say the pilot tried to reverse thrust at the last second. Honestly, they likely saved our lives.' The passenger added that they wished they could thank the pilots' families. 'They are heroes,' they said.

The LaGuardia Plane Crash

The crash occurred on a Sunday evening when the Bombardier CRJ-900, arriving from Montreal, struck a Port Authority emergency vehicle during its landing roll. The impact sheared through the front end of the jet, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. In addition to the two fatalities, 41 people were transported to local hospitals, including two police officers who were inside the rescue vehicle at the time.

An audio recording from the scene revealed that an air traffic controller attempted to stop the collision, shouting 'Stop, stop, stop!' before acknowledging, 'I messed up.' The tragedy has cast a shadow over LaGuardia Airport as investigators work to establish the full sequence of events leading to the collision.