OTTAWA — A Canadian dentist from Mississauga, Ontario, has been identified by her family as one of the passengers aboard Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The tragic incident has claimed over 200 lives, with local authorities reporting no known survivors.
Nirali Sureshkumar Patel, a practicing dentist in the Greater Toronto Area, was confirmed to be on the London-bound flight by her husband. Speaking to The Canadian Press, he shared that he was making arrangements to travel to India with their one-year-old child but was unable to speak further due to the emotional toll.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down in a residential area of Ahmedabad, a densely populated city of more than five million people. The crash site has since been the focus of intense rescue and recovery operations, with emergency crews working to retrieve bodies and provide assistance to affected families.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, stating he was “devastated” by the news. He confirmed that one Canadian was aboard the aircraft and said he is receiving continuous updates on the situation from Canadian and Indian authorities.
As investigations continue into what caused the deadly crash, Canadian officials remain in close contact with local authorities and are working to assist the victim’s family during this difficult time.
