A video of a small drone crashing into the wing of an airplane isn’t real, so stop sharing it.
Or keep sharing it, but make sure you put it in the right context.
BranitFX uploaded a video on Tuesday titled “NYC Drone Collision (happens at 00:16)”. The short clip shows the wing of a plane, as filmed from inside the plane, being struck by a drone.
Apparently, the fact that it was posted to an SFX artist’s channel didn’t stop the masses from taking it as real, and sharing it all over social media.
Bruce Branit, creator of the video, took to his blog to explain everything.
“Lately, I’ve been looking for little videos to make with no budget, an iPhone and some CGI. After shooting this footage of NYC as we were climbing out of Laguardia (thanks FAA for finally letting us keep our phones in airplane mode during take-off), I thought it might be a challenge to make something go by or even strike the wing. This is the same air corridor that Captain “Skully” ditched his Airbus A320 in the Hudson after a double bird strike, saving all on-board. But I chose to make a drone zip past instead of a bird and tear off a section of the winglet,” he writes.
“So as the internet has figured out, despite it being on the same YouTube page as ‘There’s a Spider in my Ear’ and the company name on the wing…[it’s fake].”
According to Mashable, the hoax even spread up the ladder at Southwest Airlines. The airline even had to send out an internal memo:
We wanted to bring a fake drone strike video to your attention, as it is gaining momentum across the social web and sparking interest from traditional news media. The communication team has confirmed the video is fake, and is working with the FAA to squash any reports of it being real.
If achieving viral status was the goal, consider it achieved.
Making something viral is like fishing. Gotta put something good on the hook. But still no guarantee you're going to catch anything.
— Bruce Branit (@branitfx) June 22, 2015
