New Delhi: A front-page advertisement in Thursday’s edition of Mid-Day newspaper has drawn attention following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 later that day.
The ad, promoting KidZania’s upcoming Father’s Day event, featured a cartoonish cityscape with a stylised Air India aircraft emerging from a building — an image that took on an eerie tone after the real Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.
The ill-fated aircraft was en route to London Gatwick and struck a hostel near a medical college, leading to widespread devastation. The advertisement, ironically, appeared just hours earlier in a publication popular in Gujarat.
The creative, linked to KidZania’s aviation-themed learning zone, was a part of a long-standing partnership with Air India. It showcased the airline’s branding as part of KidZania’s “Aviation Academy,” a simulation experience for children that teaches them about piloting, airport logistics, and other aviation roles.
Some on social media likened the ad’s timing to a “Simpsons-style prediction.” However, KidZania India clarified that the visual was a standard global design used across their centres and was part of a scheduled summer campaign.
In a statement, KidZania expressed sorrow over the crash and said all further promotions using the image have been paused. “Our deepest sympathies go to all affected families,” they said.
Air India had earlier celebrated the collaboration with KidZania in 2024, promoting the educational aviation initiative across its platforms.
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