Family says Mississauga, Ont., dentist was aboard Air India flight that crashed after takeoff

The family of a dentist from Mississauga, Ont., tells The Canadian Press she is the Canadian citizen believed to be on an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday.

The husband of Nirali Sureshkumar Patel confirms she was among the more than 240 passengers aboard the plane bound for London.

Patel’s dental clinic referred The Canadian Press to the husband, who says that he was in the process of booking travel to India for himself and the couple’s one-year-old child.

He declined to provide his full name and said he wasn’t in a state to speak further.

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Air India flight AI171 crashed into a medical college hostel and burst into flames near the airport in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad. It happened five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson says the Gatwick Airport-bound flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.

Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital has received 186 bodies of passengers from the plane. At least five students staying at the medical college hostel were among the dead.

Dr. Dhaval Gameti told The Associated Press he examined the lone survivor of the crash. He identified the survivor as Ramesh Viswashkumar.

“He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,” Gameti says. “But he seems to be out of danger.”

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A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada tells CHCH News it is aware that a Canadian citizen was on the flight and is in contact with local authorities to gather more information.  They add that consular officials have reached out to the family and “stand ready to provide assistance.”

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of this individual,” the spokesperson writes in an email.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he was “devastated to learn of the crash” and is receiving regular updates on the incident.

“My thoughts are with the loved ones of everyone on board,” Carney wrote in a post on X.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canadian officials are in close contact with their international counterparts.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he was “saddened” to learn that a Canadian was involved in the plane crash, and offered condolences to the families of all victims.

“We are keeping you in our thoughts during this difficult time,” he writes in a social media post.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls the crash “heartbreaking beyond words.”

“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected,” he writes in a social media post.

A statement from King Charles III says that he and Queen Camilla are “desperately shocked by the terrible events.”

“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across many nations,” the King says.

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The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the first crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Air Canada has eight Boeing 787-8 aircraft in its fleet and 32 787-9 Dreamliners. WestJet has seven Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in its fleet.

With files from The Canadian Press and Associated Press.