Friends, Family Remember Oklahoma Man Who Died In Arizona Crash

Friends say an Oklahoma City area social media icon was one of six people who died Monday night in a small plane crash in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

26-year-old Anand “Happy” Patel was known for the unique way he promoted area concerts and clubs. While police in Phoenix and the NTSB still have not identified the victims of Monday’s plane crash, several of Patel’s friends tell News 9’s Steve Shaw Patel was on board.  

A video reportedly of Patel and other passengers on that plane surfaced Tuesday on the internet. Patel’s friends say it came from one of Patel’s social media pages. Prinston Wilson owns Legacy Construction in Oklahoma City, and has been a friend of Patel’s for several years.

“It is hard for all of us, one day you’re here and one day you’re gone,” he said. 

Rico Svast is a local geologist and a longtime friend of Happy's. 

“He was one of my first friends in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I moved from Seattle for a new job here, and um I was going through a divorce. I still can’t believe this.”

“He was just a shining star,” said Rohit Mahbubani. 

Mahbugani owns The Wardrobe Modern Menswear in Oklahoma City. He says he met “Happy” Patel at an Oklahoma City Thunder game eight years ago. 

“It’s going to be hard, I won’t see him again,” he said. 

Mahbubani’s brother Andy tells News 9’s Steve Shaw he has been in touch with Patel’s twin brother—who is a highly respected teacher in Dallas.  Andy says the reports are true, Anand “Happy” Patel is gone.