Update: Queen’s student among casualties of Ukrainian plane crash in Iran

A Queen’s University student was one of the 176 people who died as a result of the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.

Queen’s University Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane announced today a student attending the university died in the crash, which took place minutes after takeoff from the Tehran airport. The student, Amir Moradi, was enrolled in the Faculty of Arts and Science. According to the flight manifest, Moradi was 21 years old at the time. He was set to graduate from Queen’s in 2021.

“Having just received new information, it is with great sadness that I convey that one of our undergraduate students has died in the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran,” Deane said in a statement on Twitter.

“We offer our condolences to family and friends and to all in our community mourning loved ones and colleagues.”

Moradi was one of 63 Canadians that perished in the crash, the cause of which is still under investigation. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 138 passengers on the Boeing 737-800 were connecting to Canada. Trudeau expressed that Canada expects to have a role in the investigation into the crash, and that the Canadian government will “work closely with its international partners” to ensure a thorough investigation of the Flight PS752 crash.

“Queen’s University is mourning the loss of one of its students who was on board the plane that crashed in Iran on Wednesday. Queen’s is in the process of reaching out to the student’s family and out of respect for their privacy is not in a position to confirm the name of the student at this time,” Queen’s said in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, noting that flags on campus have been lowered to commemorate all of the lives lost.

“The university is also reaching out directly to students from Iran to let them know of the support and services available on campus, and many of these students have been meeting at the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) to find fellowship and support,” the statement continued.

“The campus community is urged to reach out in support to anyone they may know who has been impacted by this terrible event.”

Students in need of support are encouraged to contact QUIC at 613-533-2604, Faith and Spiritual Life at 613-533-2186, or Student Wellness Services at 613-533-2506. Empower Me provides 24/7 confidential counselling by phone and online, and a post-secondary student helpline called Good2Talk is also available for 24/7 confidential support at 1-866-925-5454.

Kingstonist will update this article with more information as it becomes available.