Business Desk 
Jan 05, 2025
A fake video showing an Emirates plane crash in Abu Dhabi has gone viral on social media, creating panic among customers and their families.
The video, reportedly AI-generated, first appeared on TikTok and later spread across other platforms, highlighting the growing issue of misleading digital content.
AI tools are increasingly being used to create hyper-realistic fake videos, often causing confusion and fear. While such technology has benefits in creative industries, its misuse can lead to significant harm, including reputational damage and unnecessary alarm, just like what happened to the Emirates.
Emirates responds to viral AI-generated video
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, known for its exceptional safety standards, has firmly denied the video's authenticity. In a statement, the airline said: “We are aware of a video circulating on social media depicting an Emirates plane crash. Emirates confirms it is fabricated content and untrue."
“We are working with social media platforms to have this video removed or marked as digitally created. Unfortunately, their response times are not fast enough, which led us to issue this statement. Safety is at the heart of our operations. We urge people to trust official sources and avoid spreading false information,” the airline added.
Emirates safety record
Emirates has had a stellar safety record since its founding in 1985. The airline has faced only one crash causing hull loss. On August 3, 2016, Flight EK521, a Boeing 777-300, suffered a crash landing in Dubai during a go-around attempt.
While all 300 onboard survived, an airport firefighter tragically lost his life. The airline's crew was praised for their swift evacuation.
