The names of the two pilots killed in the devastating runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport have been released, painting a picture of dedicated professionals who fought until the very end to protect the 72 passengers and fellow crew members aboard Air Canada Express Flight AC8646.

Captain Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, from Oakland Park, Florida, and First Officer Antoine Forest, 30, from Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, lost their lives when the Bombardier CRJ-900 struck a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 shortly after landing on the night of March 22, 2026. The impact obliterated the forward fuselage, claiming the pilots instantly while the rest of the aircraft remained intact enough for a rapid evacuation that saved everyone else on board.

Family, colleagues, and the broader aviation community have described both men as experienced, skilled, and deeply committed to safety. Murphy, a seasoned captain with thousands of hours on regional jets, was known for his calm demeanor under pressure and his passion for mentoring younger pilots. Forest, who began his career flying smaller aircraft in Quebec and joined Jazz Aviation in late 2022, had quickly earned a reputation as a talented and enthusiastic first officer. Colleagues noted that Forest had trained at Cégep de Chicoutimi and previously flew for regional operators including Air Saguenay and Exact Air.

Tributes poured in rapidly after the identities were confirmed. One close associate of the crew shared a statement that has resonated deeply: “They did everything possible to save the passengers but they could not save themselves.” The quote, widely circulated on social media and in Canadian media, captures the final moments in the cockpit. Preliminary reports and air traffic control audio suggest the pilots executed a textbook landing under clear conditions. When the conflict with the fire truck became apparent, they had mere seconds to react. Sources indicate they maintained control as long as humanly possible, keeping the aircraft stable enough for the cabin crew to initiate a swift evacuation after the violent stop.

The collision occurred because the fire truck was crossing the active runway to respond to an odor emergency on a separate United Airlines flight. Tower recordings captured frantic repeated commands of “Stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop,” but the timing proved fatal for the forward section. Despite the destruction, passengers and surviving crew praised the pilots’ final actions. Several survivors reported feeling the aircraft “skate” or slide in a controlled manner rather than cartwheel or break apart completely, actions consistent with skilled piloting in an emergency.

Air Line Pilots Association International President Capt. Jason Ambrosi issued a heartfelt statement: “These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time.” Jazz Aviation and Air Canada expressed profound sorrow, confirming that care teams are supporting the pilots’ families and all those affected. Both organizations emphasized that the crew’s professionalism likely prevented a far greater tragedy.

Antoine Forest’s family and friends in Quebec have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of condolences. Social media posts describe him as a kind, adventurous young man who lived his dream of flying. Photos shared online show a smiling pilot proud of his uniform and his journey from small regional flights to flying for one of Canada’s major carriers. Murphy’s colleagues in Florida remember him as a steady hand in the cockpit and a family man whose love for aviation never faded.

The National Transportation Safety Board, working with the FAA, Transport Canada, and the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, continues its investigation. Focus remains on the sequence of clearances, tower workload, surface surveillance effectiveness, and emergency vehicle protocols at busy airports like LaGuardia. The incident has renewed urgent discussions about preventing runway incursions, especially when emergency vehicles must cross active surfaces.

For the 72 passengers and surviving crew, the pilots’ sacrifice is now deeply personal. Many have shared stories of the sudden jolt, the bang, and the chaos that followed—yet they walked away alive because the aircraft stayed largely intact and the evacuation was executed efficiently. Flight attendants and passengers alike credit the pilots’ final inputs with giving them those critical extra seconds.

In the days since the crash, LaGuardia has gradually resumed limited operations, but the emotional scars remain. Memorials and candlelight vigils have appeared at airports in Montreal and New York. Pilots across North America have paid tribute by flying with black ribbons or sharing messages of solidarity.

The loss of Murphy and Forest underscores the human element at the heart of aviation safety. Every flight depends on men and women who accept enormous responsibility, often in high-pressure environments where margins are razor-thin. Their final flight ended in tragedy for them, but their professionalism ensured it did not claim more lives.

As the investigation unfolds and recommendations are prepared, the aviation community mourns two heroes whose last actions embodied the highest ideals of their profession: putting passengers first, even at the cost of their own lives. “They did everything possible to save the passengers but they could not save themselves” — those words now stand as a fitting, heartbreaking epitaph for Captain Edward Daniel Murphy and First Officer Antoine Forest.

Their legacy will live on in every safe landing, every trained pilot they mentored, and every passenger who flies because of the standards they upheld.