After the tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29, 2025, a viral photo emerged showing a plane floating on water, with claims that it was from the Washington crash. The image quickly spread across social media, sparking heated reactions. However, after verification using an AI detection tool, Fact Crescendo found that the image was not real and had been generated by AI. This is about our investigation of this photo.
Social Media Claim
A photo shared by a social media user, showing a plane floating on water, was quickly claimed to depict a recent crash in the U.S. The post went viral, gaining significant traction as many people believed it to be true, especially with reports of rescuers attempting to reach the wreckage.
For more information and specifics regarding this claim, you can find the details below.
Similar photos showing a plane floating in a river, with claims that it was the crashed plane involved in the Washington incident, U.S.A., were widely shared on X by multiple users. These images quickly spread across the platform, with many users sharing and commenting on them in response to the ongoing crisis.
The photos were often accompanied by emotional captions, saying “NO survivors in the Washington plane crash, according to DC’s fire chief. Rescue efforts have now shifted to a recovery operation 🥹💔”.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo conducted a thorough review of the images using advanced tools such as Google Reverse Image Search and AI verification technologies. Through this process, we were able to uncover crucial information about the authenticity of the images.
When we uploaded the photo to the Hive Moderation website, it was revealed that the image was not genuine. Instead of being a real, unaltered photograph, the image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The photo below clearly demonstrates that the images above were created using AI technology and are not real representations of actual events.
The Fact Crescendo team found that emergency response teams, including rescuers and recovery units, were promptly on the scene, working diligently to manage the aftermath of the crash.
According to The Washington Post, on January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle, collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The tragic incident occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, over the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
Despite the significant presence of these emergency teams, no photographic evidence was found that matched the image circulating online, which was being falsely claimed as a photo of the actual crash scene. The image, showing a plane floating in the water, was widely shared and led many to mistakenly believe it was connected to the crash near Washington D.C. However, after thorough investigation, it was revealed that the image was not taken from the real wreckage site and had no connection to the actual crash response efforts.
For more information and specifics regarding this claim, you can find the details below.
The Washington Post | Archived Link
Another angle of the plane wreckage was recently discovered and published by AP News, which clearly does not match the image circulating online. The new photos provided by AP News offer a more accurate view of the crash site, contradicting the false claims made by the viral photo.
This further emphasizes the need for careful verification of images before they are shared and believed.
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has investigated the claims and found them to be false. The photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI) and are not real.
Title:AI-Generated Image of Plane Crash in US Misleads Social Media Users
Written By: Kakada SimResult: Altered
