A dramatic photo showed hundreds of birds seemingly surrounding a British Airways flight, sparking viral stories about a supposed bird attack. However, this was misleading.
About 90% of bird strikes occur near airports during takeoff or landing, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. One widely shared fictional account described a pilot, Jason, heroically landing a plane on water after a violent bird attack. In reality, no such incident occurred.
The story, classified as glurge—a heartwarming but distorted tale—circulated across obscure blogs and YouTube videos. Some versions falsely claimed the birds targeted Christian passengers. Despite the sensational claims, no British Airways flight was involved.
The actual photo, taken by Adam Samu on June 15, 2004, at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, was an optical illusion. The starlings, startled by the plane’s takeoff, were farther away than they appeared. Samu confirmed no bird strikes or injuries occurred.
The viral tale highlights the need for fact-checking before believing dramatic stories, proving how easily misinformation spreads online.
