Family says Ontario dentist was aboard Air India flight that crashed after takeoff
Plane went down in residential area of Ahmedabad, in northwestern India
The Canadian citizen believed to be on an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff is a dentist from Mississauga, Ont., her family has confirmed.
The husband of Nirali Sureshkumar Patel said she was on board the London-bound flight that crashed Thursday, killing at least 240 people.
Patel's dental clinic referred The Canadian Press to the husband, who said that he was in the process of booking travel to India for himself and the couple's one-year-old child.
"That was my wife," he said. "I am not in a state to speak right now."
He declined to provide his full name and requested privacy for the family.
The plane crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad, a city of more than five million people in northwestern India.
Among the dead were at least five students staying at a medical college hostel where the plane crashed. A local hospital said it had received 186 bodies.
At least one person survived the crash, according to a doctor at the hospital. India's home minister said he met the survivor in hospital.
It marks the country's worst aviation disaster in decades.
Victim was a volunteer, believed in giving back
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "devastated" to learn of the crash and was receiving regular updates on the situation, confirming one Canadian was on the flight.
The prime minister added that Canadian transport officials are in close contact with their international counterparts.
Patel, the Canadian dentist, graduated from a dental college in India before moving to Canada, according to a biography posted on the website of her clinic, the Heritage Dental Centre.
She was a hardworking person who believed in giving back to the community and volunteered at a free dental camp every year, the page reads.
"The feeling that my work has made a difference in someone's life brightens my day," Patel is quoted as saying about why she became a dentist.
Victor Campagn, the manager of the building where Patel's office is located near Centennial Park Boulevard and Eglinton Avenue W., said he feels terrible for the family as she had two young children.
"She was amazing, always happy, I have never seen her upset," he told CBC News.
Friend Sumana Anand met Patel in Mississauga in 2017. She said they studied together for a licensing exam required to practice as a dentist in Canada.
Patel had an inspiring work ethic and always had a positive outlook, Anand said.
"Despite challenges, she never lost hope or determination," she told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Friday.
She said she wants people to remember Patel as someone who lived with passion and kindness.
"She taught us to cherish every moment and support each other," Anand said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post that he was saddened to hear of Patel's death.
"On behalf of the people of Ontario, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of every victim. We are keeping you in our thoughts during this difficult time," Ford wrote.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash "heartbreaking beyond words."
"In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected," he said in a social media post.
A statement from King Charles said 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 said.
Model of plane included in Air Canada's fleet
The flight was carrying 169 Indians, 53 Britons and seven Portuguese nationals in addition to the lone Canadian, according to Air India.
The plane crashed five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time.
Indian television news channels reported that the plane crashed on top of the dining area of a medical college hostel and visuals showed a portion of the aircraft atop the building, killing at least five students and injuring nearly 50 others.
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 CBC News, Metro Morning, David Baxter and The Associated Press