Uncanny coincidence? KidZania ad mirroring crash hours before AI 171 incident draws netizens’ attention

An Air India–KidZania ad in Mid-Day, published hours before the AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, has sparked online attention due to its visual resemblance to the actual incident. The ad shows an aircraft emerging from a building, similar to the crash site image

Hyderabad: An advertisement on the front page of the Mid-Day newspaper on Thursday has drawn attention after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, due to its uncanny resemblance to the incident.

The Air India–KidZania advertisement, published on the day of the crash, depicts the nose of an Air India aircraft sticking out of a building—eerily similar to images from the actual crash site, where the tail of the aircraft was seen protruding from the mess building of a medical hostel.

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As visuals of the crash went viral, netizens began pointing out the disturbing parallels between the advertisement and the incident.

The Father’s Day-themed ad was intended to promote KidZania’s aviation experience, where children can roleplay as pilots and cabin crew. The image used in the ad originates from a longstanding collaboration between Air India and KidZania, where the design is featured at all KidZania centres worldwide to represent its Aviation Academy.

In fact, a July 2024 promotional video by Air India on X showcased a life-size aircraft model emerging from a building, which appears to be the visual inspiration for the ad.

KidZania also confirmed to NDTV that the Mid-Day advertisement was based on this globally recognised architectural feature.

Here is the video:

Dreams take off here! A new chapter in aviation excellence begins with the grand launch of the Air India Aviation Academy at @KidZaniaIndia in Delhi- NCR. 🚀 Whether navigating a flight simulator or learning about airport operations, KidZania’s Air India Aviation Academy is where… pic.twitter.com/fiuhWKd3EZ

— Air India (@airindia) July 8, 2024