FACT CHECK: The image showing a passenger plane with Beirut burning in the background is AI-generated

A picture shared on X claims to show a passenger plane flying while Beirut, Lebanon burns in the background.

A Middle East Airline plane lands at Hariri Int Airport #Beirut in the midst of Israeli attacks. Only in #Lebanon 💔…@MEAAIRLIBAN @BEYAirport pic.twitter.com/IZvhoWy3eT

—Dr. David I Ramadan (@DavidIRamadan) October 20, 2024

Verdict: False

The image was generated by artificial intelligence.

Fact check:

Social media users claim to show Beirut airport in flames and a passenger plane flying over the burning area. One user wrote: “A Middle East Airline plane landed at Hariri Int Airport in #Beirut in the midst of Israeli attacks. Only in #Lebanon 💔…”

This claim is false. The original image shared on Instagram makes it clear that these are AI-generated images. The caption reads: “Here are AI-generated photos that represent the real situation.”

Also BBC Verify reporter Shayan Sardarizadeh exposed the claim in an Oct. 20 tweet. (RELATED: Have Tesco and Shell diverted energy from a solar farm set to power 100,000 homes?)

This image, showing a plane landing at Beirut airport amid a huge fire nearby, is being shared widely this evening amid fierce Israeli attacks.

The bizarre shape of the plane and its wings, the fire and the building in the foreground indicate that the image is AI generated and faked. pic.twitter.com/CRRbXCieh3

— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) October 20, 2024

“This image showing a plane landing at Beirut airport amid a huge fire nearby is being widely shared this evening amid intense Israeli attacks. “The bizarre shape of the plane and its wings, the fire and the building in the foreground indicate that the image is AI generated and faked,” Sardarizadeh tweeted.