A video circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, appears to show a group of people manually pushing an airplane with the inscription "207 Congo Airways." The footage has sparked widespread attention and reaction, with many users expressing amusement and skepticism. However, Eleza Fact, a fact-checking organization, has conducted an investigation and concluded that the video is AI-generated. The video was first posted on Facebook by Junior Nguala on August 24 and had garnered significant engagement by the time it was checked.
Further analysis by Eleza Fact using various AI detection tools, including The Hive, UncovAI, and AI Video Detector, confirmed that the video exhibits signs of AI generation. The Hive tool indicated a 94.8% likelihood of AI-generated content, while UncovAI assigned a 98% confidence level for detecting AI-generated video and 62% for audio. AI Video Detector categorized the video as "High Risk" with a score of 76/100 and a confidence level of 64%. These findings collectively suggest that the video is not authentic.
The inscription "207 Congo Airways" on the plane's fuselage is another indication of the video's falsity. According to Eleza Fact's research, there is no airline in the Democratic Republic of Congo with this name. Instead, the country's national airline is called Congo Airways. The "207" in the inscription refers to the popular minibus service in Kinshasa, often nicknamed "esprit de mort" due to their rapid driving and poor maintenance.
Despite the video being AI-generated, it appears to be based on a real incident. On August 22, a Congo Airways plane experienced technical difficulties at Kinshasa, and passengers were forced to disembark. Various videos and reports from the time describe the incident, with some passengers expressing frustration and disappointment. However, none of the authentic accounts mention passengers pushing the plane.
Eleza Fact found several videos and reports documenting the real incident. A video posted by journalist Yves Buya on August 23 shows passengers inside the plane before disembarking, complaining about the aircraft's failure to start. Another video by Les stars congolaises RDC on August 22 shows passengers exiting the plane due to a technical issue. These accounts confirm that an incident occurred but contradict the AI-generated video's claim that passengers pushed the plane.
The use of AI-generated content to fabricate or manipulate information has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation. In this case, the AI-generated video may have been created to exaggerate or distort the real incident, potentially causing unnecessary alarm or confusion. Eleza Fact's investigation highlights the importance of verifying information through multiple sources and using detection tools to identify potential AI-generated content.
In conclusion, the video showing passengers pushing a plane with the inscription "207 Congo Airways" has been confirmed as AI-generated. While it appears to be based on a real incident, the added elements of passengers pushing the plane are entirely fabricated. The incident itself is a reminder of the need for accurate and reliable information, especially in the age of social media where misinformation can spread rapidly.
Key points
- The video of passengers pushing a Congo Airways plane was generated using AI.
- The incident was based on a real event where a Congo Airways plane experienced technical difficulties.
- The use of AI-generated content has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation.
