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Was the only survivor in the recent Air India crash arrested?
It was one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
An Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing over 270 people. The world mourned. Families grieved. News outlets ran 24-hour coverage. And then, about a week later, another story began to surface online.
This time, it wasn’t about tragedy. It was about deception.
A video posted by an Instagram account named @aviationspotting7 claimed that the crash’s lone survivor, a man named Vishwas Ramesh Kumar, had been arrested for faking his presence on the flight.
The voiceover was calm but accusing. It claimed that Kumar was nowhere on the passenger manifest, He had been caught on CCTV at a local shopping mall during the time of the crash, and had lied to gain compensation or media attention.
The caption was damning:
“Truth revealed: Survivor of Air India crash arrested for falsely claiming to be on board.”
The video was shared widely on Instagram and WhatsApp. Hashtags like #TruthRevealed, #AirIndiaCrash, and #FakeSurvivor added fuel.
People were outraged. They accused Kumar of exploiting the deaths of 270 people. Some demanded he be jailed. Others doubted there had been any survivor at all.
But let’s pause. Because there’s a problem with this story.
Actually, several.
First, no credible Indian news outlet reported Kumar’s arrest. That’s unusual, especially given the intense local and international coverage surrounding the crash.
Second, when journalists reached out directly to law enforcement, they got a very different account.
Jaipal Singh Rathore, Additional Commissioner of Police in Ahmedabad, was unequivocal:
“Mr. Vishwas Ramesh Kumar has not been arrested. He is not under investigation for any such claim.”
In fact, police confirmed that Kumar was onboard the doomed flight. He survived—barely—and was treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for multiple injuries.
So why the confusion?
Investigators believe Kumar’s survival was due to sheer luck—and seat location. He was seated near an emergency exit, which may have allowed him to escape during the crash’s brief but devastating window.
Following his discharge, Kumar even attended the funeral rites of his brother — one of the victims who perished in the crash. Photos showed him visibly shaken, standing beside grieving relatives.
None of this matches the image painted in the viral video.
So where did that narrative come from?
While it’s unclear who produced the false video, analysts point to a growing trend of AI-generated disinformation. With just a few clips, stock footage, and a synthesized voiceover, anyone can manufacture an alternate reality — one that looks real and spreads fast.
But the damage is also real.
Kumar, already a survivor of a traumatic event, had his name dragged through the mud. He was accused, insulted, and questioned — not for what he did, but for what someone said he did.
The verdict: The claim is FALSE. Kumar was not arrested. He survived the crash. He never lied.
What happened to him was not fraud. It was survival.
And once again, the internet proved that a lie told well can still outrun the truth — unless someone stops to check.
That’s what we do here at WABMA Debunker.
A claim circulated online that Nigerians will pay ₦500 tax on every ₦10,000 spent on fuel from January 2026.
Verdict: MISLEADING.
Yes, a 5% fuel surcharge exists—but it is not a new tax.
The levy originates from the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, signed by President Tinubu on June 26, 2025. It mandates a 5% surcharge on petrol and diesel, collected at the point of sale. Cleaner fuels like LPG, kerosene, CNG, and renewables are exempt.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, clarified that this is not a new tax. It reactivates provisions already contained in the FERMA Act of 2007, which introduced a fuel levy for road maintenance.
Importantly, there is no announced start date for the surcharge.
Conclusion: The claim that Nigerians will begin paying a new fuel tax in January 2026 is misleading. It is not a new tax, and no commencement date has been fixed.
A WhatsApp post, widely forwarded, claimed that the Senate passed a new Cybercrime Act in 2025, signed into law by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Verdict: FALSE.
The post warned Nigerians to “abide” by the so-called law, listing offences like unauthorised access to phones or accounts, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Fact-checks show the claim is fake. The Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 remains the operative law. The last amendment came in 2024. Though discussions about further review began in May 2025, no new law has been passed.
Also, the Nigerian Senate has been on recess since July 2025 and did not resume until September 23. No credible media outlet reported any new Act. Even if passed by the National Assembly, a bill still requires Presidential assent before becoming law.
Conclusion: The claim that the Senate passed a 2025 Cybercrime Act is false. No such law exists.
💥 Ep.104–WABMA Fake News Debunker:
Has the government introduced a new fuel tax starting January 2026?
