AAUP Offers Condolences for Victims of Flight 752 Crash

The AAUP grieves the loss of life resulting from the crash of Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752 soon after its departure from Tehran airport in Iran. These deaths are an international tragedy, affecting people across the globe who mourn the loss of friends, family members, and colleagues. The impact of this tragedy extends beyond those who knew the victims personally. Of the 176 passengers on the flight, 138 were bound for Canada, and more than half of those victims—many of them born in Iran and returning from visits to their families—had direct ties to Canadian universities, where they studied, performed research, or taught students. These universities will feel their losses for many years to come, as will the broader academic communities to which many passengers on the flight belonged. While the legacies of some individuals will live on through publications and other contributions to academic knowledge, their expertise is harder to replace because every teacher and researcher brings unique skills and insights that come from years of academic study and collaboration. We express our sincere condolences to the families and academic communities affected by this tragedy.