+34
ABC NEWS Verify examines and attempts to debunk some of the fake news that's spreading online following the flydubai flight.
Deepfakes and false narratives are spreading online following the mid-air incident. In the hours since the mid-air incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, false information and fake video have been circulating widely on social media.
In the modern news environment, major events can often be targets for people wanting to spread false narratives or "go viral" with dramatic — and bogus — details. Add in the tense geopolitics of the regions involved in this particular incident and you have all the ingredients required for a misinformation perfect storm.
False flag incident was 'staged' by Israel Rumours started spreading quickly and widely in the wake of this incident that it was an Israeli-planned event, with one tweet by popular United States conspiracy theorist Jackson Hinkle being viewed on X more than 1.5 million times. Multiple other posts describing the midair incident as a "false flag" operation — or an act disguising the true person or party responsible — have also been shared widely.
Given that the investigation into the incident is only hours old and the motivation and history of the alleged perpetrator is still unknown, this narrative appears to be relying on anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic tropes rather than any established facts. The source of this post, Jackson Hickle, has a reported history of spreading falsehoods, an act that may be financially incentivised as he's previously admitted to receiving payments from X.com in exchange for highly engaging posts.
This deepfake video purporting to be a real BBC News report was posted onto X just a couple of hours after the incident. It appears to have been created using real footage of BBC presenter Sally Bundock, but AI-manipulated with a fake Australian voice and script. The deepfake combines footage of a plane flying over a city that appears to be completely unrelated to this flydubai incident, as well as real verified video from inside the flight.
It's pushing a narrative that Indian officials were somehow involved in the incident alongside Mossad — something there is simply no established evidence for. The post has been viewed more than 300,000 times but does now have an added content note on X that describes it as "AI slop".
What's notable is how quickly it was produced, and how realistic elements of it are, including the reproduction of BBC News visual signposts and the use of a real presenter's face and body. Multiple posts about the "true" nationality or citizenship of the pilot responsible have been spread on social media, well before any established information about his identity or alleged motivation had been formally released by authorities.
While the "hero" pilot has been publicly identified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Indian pilot captain Smit Machchhar, no official information about the alleged perpetrator had been made publicly available when these posts went out, and they appear to rely entirely on anti-Pakistani sentiment. Reuters has since reported that an unnamed Israeli official had identified the attacker as an Omani national.
Ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India have become a motivation for some accounts seeking to spread misinformation aimed at blaming major events on Pakistani or Indian nationals — something that was also seen after the Bondi massacre. ABC NEWS Verify recommends always examining the sources of material being spread online, asking yourself questions about their motivation and legitimacy and always looking for corroboration from trusted news providers.
Dubai Tel Aviv Misinformation Online Social Media
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korean Group WaterPlum Steals Millions via Fake Job AdsAuthorities warn that the North Korean hacking group WaterPlum has infiltrated over 30,000 devices and stolen $10.71 million in cryptocurrency by targeting IT professionals with fake job advertisements and AI-enhanced interview scams.
Read more »
Peter Manning, Iconic ABC Journalist, Dies at 81Former ABC head of TV news Peter Manning, widely hailed as a colossus of investigative journalism, has died at age 81. Manning is credited with rejuvenating Four Corners and receiving a Walkley Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism for his six-decade career in Australian media.
Read more »
Alan Kohler to retire from ABC on December 16 after 24 yearsVeteran financial journalist Alan Kohler, 74, will retire from the ABC at the end of the year, with his final 7pm finance report on December 16. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and ABC executives paid tribute to his 50-year career, while the ABC will announce his successor in coming weeks.
Read more »
ABC finance journalist Alan Kohler to retire after three decadesAlan Kohler will step down from the ABC in December after nearly three decades as a business and economics correspondent. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and ABC leadership praised his clear, engaging explanations of complex economic issues and said they expect him to remain connected to the broadcaster through future projects and economic commentary.
Read more »