Airline Had Just 1 Accident Since 1985 Founding

From the "What is WRONG with people!" department, we hear that Emirates, one of United Arab Emirates’ flag airlines, is fighting back hard against video clips that have been circulating on social media claiming to show an Emirates airliner with an engine on fire and heading toward the ground. The airline states in no uncertain terms that the video is “fabricated content” and untrue. The airline is urging audiences to always check and refer to official sources.

Emirates posted a statement on its website and on X reiterating that safety is one of Emirates’ core principles. The airline has been in contact with social media platforms but says they have been slow to remove the content or to make clear to consumers of the content that the footage is digitally created and is intended to alarm air travelers.

As readers are likely aware, two airline accidents occurred recently: Jeju Air in South Korea on December 29 and Azerbaijan Airlines on Christmas Day, December 25. Although not yet confirmed, the latter crash appears to have been caused by an accidental targeting incident by Russian anti-aircraft fire that was occurring in response to Ukrainian drone attacks in Grozny, Chechnya, where the airliner was attempting to land.

After videos of those two airline crashes were posted on social media, and shortly after Emirates announced that their first Airbus A380 had entered service, the video depicting an Emirates airliner crashing with engines on fire surfaced. It has, understandably, generated uneasiness among air travelers.

For the record, Emirates has the cleanest record among all airlines. It has had only one accident since its founding in 1985. That was a gear-up landing incident in which the crew got all the passengers out of the aircraft with zero injuries or fatalities. One firefighter died while combating the blaze inside the jet.

It should probably not need saying, but AI photos and videos have been a thing for a few years now, and what started out as mostly humorous examples have quickly morphed into alarming and dangerous content. Unfortunately, it is now critical to confirm everything one views online if there is any shred of doubt about its authenticity.

FMI:  www.emirates.com/