Emirates has hit out at popular social media platforms TikTok and X (formally Twitter) for delays in removing a fake AI-generated video of a passenger jet sporting the airline’s iconic livery crashing into a residential area overlaid with audio of people screaming and crying.
Although the video appears quite clearly to be a hoax and computer-generated, it hasn’t stopped the clip from being shared widely across several social media platforms, where clickbait posts suggest that the ‘mainstream media’ are trying to conceal what happened.
Given horrific real-life aviation accidents that sent shockwaves around the round over the Christmas and New Year periods, including two fatal crashes that claimed 217 innocent lives in just five days, aviation safety is an incredibly emotive subject at the moment.
After contacting various social media platforms to get the fake video removed, however, Emirates quickly became frustrated with how long it was taking for these social media companies to respond to its complaint.
“We are aware of a video circulating on social media depicting an Emirates plane crash. Emirates confirms it is fabricated content and untrue,” the Dubai-based airline said in a post on X on Saturday.
“We are in contact with the various social media platforms to remove the video or make clear that it is digitally created footage to avoid false and alarming information from circulating,” the statement continued.
“Unfortunately, the platforms’ responses to such content review requests are not quick enough, therefore necessitating this statement.”
Given the ability of false rumors to spread unchecked on the internet, Emirates has urged passengers to check official sources if they are in any doubt about what they see online.
It has been more than eight years since Emirates last experienced a plane crash when Flight EK521 from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, crashed as it attempted to land in Dubai.
The pilots of the Boeing 777-300 were blamed for the accident after they attempted to perform an unsuccessful go-around. The plane caught fire after the crash but all 282 passengers and 18 crew members onboard escaped the burning wreckage.
Tragically, however, an airport firefighter lost his life while battling the fire.
While I won’t admit the fabrication of such videos like this, I am pretty sure the user/channel of the video has put “fanmade” or “fake stories”. It’s the public that gave it a different view.