Students from Canadian universities, families among plane crash victims in Iran
Newlyweds, a toddler and university students returning to their studies were among 138 people travelling to Canada who died Wednesday morning when a Ukrainian
OFFJOURNAL passenger plane crashed shortly after taking from Iran’s capital, Tehran. including 138 people Francois-philippe Prime Minister Justin who were en route to Champagne will be Trudeau said 138 of the Canada. speaking with the Iranian 176 passengers aboard The Ukraine International foreign minister the Kyiv-bound plane Airlines Boeing and conveying the had connecting flights to 737-800, bound for need for a thorough Canada. Kyiv, crashed shortly investigation into the “A Ukrainian Airlines after taking off from crash. plane just landed in Toronto the Iranian capital, The Transportation from Kyiv,” he killing all 176 people Safety Board has said said at a news conference on board, including it appointed an expert Wednesday afternoon. at least 63 Canadians. to monitor the progress “According to the airline, Trudeau says it is too of the Iranian investigation. there were 138 passengers early to speculate, but who weren’t on that he knows Canadians Trudeau says he also flight.” have questions about spoke with U.S. President A portrait of the people how the crash happened Donald Trump who should have filled and that they along with other allies those seats began to deserve answers. earlier today, who all emerge in the hours following He says Foreign offered their sympathies the crash. Universities Affairs Minister and support.
across Canada lowered flags to half-mast and began mourning faculty members and students, who featured
Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he knows Canadians want answers from an investigation into a plane that crashed outside Tehran, killing everyone on board heavily on a passenger list that included at least 63 Canadians.
Many of the victims were from Edmonton. Others included a North Vancouver couple, Toronto-area professionals and a family of three from Ajax, Ont. CIBC bank said Evin
Arsalani, her husband Hiva and their one-yearold child all died in the crash.
More than a dozen students from Canadian universities as well as professors and alumni were confirmed among the crash victims. University of Alberta president David Turpin said several of the school’s students were on the plane.
“This is a devastating loss for the University of Alberta,” he said. “Ours is a closely interconnected community, and we grieve with everyone touched by this terrible loss.”
Payman Paseyan, a member of the Iranian-canadian community in Edmonton, said his friend Pedram Mousavi died along with his wife Mojgan Daneshmand and their daughters Daria
Mousavi and Dorina Mousavi. The parents were engineering professors at the University of Alberta.
“They had two young girls with them. I can’t imagine what was going through their mind,” said Paseyan.
Hossein Saghlitooin, who did his PHD and post-doctorate under Mousavi, said he has known the family for about six years. “I was crying my eyes out. I am not an emotional person, but I know them so much,” he said. “It’s not just that I was working with them or that he was my boss, he was a friend. He was like a father to me.”
Several other Canadian schools went through the heartbreaking task Wednesday of determining whether any of their students were aboard the plane.