Coincidence Draws Attention: Air India Plane in Newspaper Ad Hours Before Crash

Ahmedabad, 13 June 2025: A tragic air accident involving Air India Flight AI171 has left the nation in mourning, with 241 lives lost after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. Among the 242 people on board the London-bound flight, only one person survived and was later rescued.

In the aftermath of the disaster, a striking coincidence on the front page of Gujarat’s widely circulated newspaper Mid-Day has drawn public attention. The edition, printed and distributed just hours before the crash, featured a large advertisement for KidZania, the family entertainment and learning centre, prominently displaying an Air India aircraft.

The image shows a branded Air India plane flying out from a playful, miniature cityscape — part of KidZania’s themed promotion for its Father’s Day event scheduled for June 13–15. The aircraft, rendered at low altitude, is designed to evoke excitement as part of KidZania’s aviation role-play experience where children can act as pilots and cabin crew.

The advertisement was created as part of a pre-scheduled marketing campaign and printed in advance of the crash. The presence of the Air India plane on the front page, distributed just hours before the real-life tragedy, has been noted by readers for its unusual timing.

There has been no indication of public outrage or speculation surrounding the advertisement. The focus remains on mourning the victims and supporting ongoing investigations into the cause of the crash.