Iranian-American community remembers Iran plane crash victims at downtown Austin vigil

“I’m getting flashbacks of the video that I saw, and it’s just so heartbreaking,” said Paris Hobbs.

Hobbs recalls footage of what was left of Ukrainian Flight 752. On January 8th, reports say the plane carrying 176 people was accidentally shot out of the sky by Iran’s military, as it flew over Tehran. No one survived.

“I do know some friends who know some of the victims, and it’s just so sad to see what the families are going through, right now,” said Hobbs.

Hobbs immigrated from Iran. She says she felt the need to organize a vigil in downtown Austin this weekend to unite the Iranian-American community during this fragile time. Among the dead, people from across several nations, including 82 Iranians.

“We couldn’t believe it. How could it be an accident? It was a big shock to all of us, I think Iranians as a nation and the world,” said Hobbs. “They could have been with their family right now, if there wasn’t any tension in the region.”