schema:text
| - Fact Check: What an explosive photo of the Lebanon sky! Pity it's AI-generated
A photo allegedly showing a Middle East Airlines flight landing in Beirut amid Israeli bombardments was widely shared online.
Listen to Story
India Today Fact Check
This photo is not real. It was generated using AI.
Middle East Airlines is the only commercial airline still operating in conflict-ridden Beirut as Israeli air strikes continue in southern Lebanon. The airline reportedly conducts daily assessments to ensure the safety of operations amid the risk of air raids.
Now, a photo allegedly showing an MEA flight landing with a huge explosion in the backdrop has gone viral. Many shared the photo with captions like, “A photo for the history books. MEA airline landing in Beirut International Airport as Israeli rains fire on the airport.”
India Today Fact Check, however, found that this photo is AI-generated.
Our Probe
Reverse searching the photo led us to an Instagram post dated October 21. Along with the viral photo, the post contained another similar picture of a flight landing amid an explosion. The caption of the post stated that these photos were generated using AI, crediting another Instagram account named “@south.to.north”.
While we could not find the viral photo on this account, we have reached out to them for more information.
We also compared the flight seen in the viral photo with photos of MEA flights. We noticed several discrepancies in the aeroplane, such as the design of the tail and the blurred-out portion of the plane's body. A comparison between the two can be seen below.
We used the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which stated there was a 91.7 per cent chance of it being generated using AI. Another such tool called TrueMedia stated there was substantial evidence of generative AI being used to create the photo.
Notably, as per news reports, Captain Mohammed Aziz, an adviser to the MEA chairman, recently stated that some of the most dramatic photos of jets landing in fiery hellscapes were generated using AI, adding that they will only operate as long as the threat assessment marks it safe.
It is thus, clear that the viral photo of an aeroplane landing amid explosions was AI-generated.
Please share it on our at 73 7000 7000
You can also send us an email at factcheck@intoday.com
|