They came home. Just not the way any of us prayed for.

As a proud Canadian and a travel professional, my heart is breaking.

This week, the bodies of Captain Antoine Forest, 30, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, 24, were brought home to Canada. Two young men who chose aviation as their calling — and gave everything for it.

Antoine trained at the Centre québécois de formation aéronautique at Cégep de Chicoutimi, graduating in 2018. He went on to fly wildfire spotting missions over Quebec’s forests — building his hours, chasing his dream. Mackenzie graduated from Seneca Polytechnic’s aviation technology program in 2023 and joined Jazz Aviation right after graduation. Two young Canadians. Two different paths. One shared calling.

With just seconds to spare, the first officer transferred control to the captain. Together, they braked with everything they had. A passenger credited their “incredible reflexes” with saving his life. The cockpit was destroyed. They never had a chance. But because of them — 72 people went home to their families.

Antoine’s brother Cédric wrote: “Have a good flight, my brother. You’d come and go in a flash, always with new projects in mind. You’ve left us in a flash again — too soon for us to say goodbye.”

Please say their names. Captain Antoine Forest. First Officer Mackenzie Gunther. Rest easy, gentlemen. Canada is proud of you. Canada is grieving you🍁