AI-generated image used in Toronto airport crash reporting
Image was created using xAI's Grok
CLAIM
A photo widely shared on social media and several news sites purports to show Delta Flight 4819 on the runway after crash-landing and flipping onto its roof at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.
BACKGROUND
At least 18 people were injured, three of them critically, when a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, flipping onto its roof upon impact, according to reports.
The three critically injured were described in news reports citing emergency services as a child, a woman in her 40’s and a man in his 60’s.
The Delta Air Lines Flight, operated by Endeavor Air, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it crashed at around 2.15 p.m. local time on Monday.
Following the crash an image described as showing the plane on the runway was shared online with the following caption:
“TRUMP AIR DISASTER 8: US flight 4819 of Delta Airlines crash lands UPSIDE DOWN in Toronto marking the 8th plane crash in 20 days since Trump/Musk fired FAA/ATC staff #planecrash
1/29–D.C.
1/31–Penn
2/5-D.C.
2/6–Alaska
2/10–Arizona
2/12–Calif
2/16–Georgia
2/17-Toronto.”
At the time of publishing, the image had close to 284,000 visualisations and had been shared on several news websites, including Mexico’s national print and digital outlet EL Heraldo, which included the image in their reporting on the crash.
El Heraldo’s report and use of the image were reposted on several other websites, including Mexica’s Plano Informativo and La Patilla of Venezuela.
Numerous other online outlets included the image in their reporting, including Indian outlets News 9 Live and Mirror Now, which used thumbnails of the image. Newsweek România also used the image, which was found in a report by El Debate on msn.com/es-mx.
METHOD
At first glance, several elements in the image seem out of place and inconsistent. The front landing gear features at least three large wheels, which is unusual, while the windows, tail, and wings are oriented correctly rather than appearing inverted, contradicting confirmed reports that the plane was left upside down after crashing.
Comparing the image with footage shared by a passenger and verified by the ESN reveals that the plane’s nose section and landing gear do look different.
On closer examination, the image features a logo for the AI chatbot Grok, which is integrated into the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), indicating that the image was created using AI.
Different online tools to moderate and analyse images returned similar results, indicating the photo was at least 98% likely generated by artificial intelligence.
The account that shared the image describes itself as providing “The latest coverage on news and events in Northwest Twitter,” suggesting it may offer satirical or humorous commentary on current affairs. The caption references U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, listing a crash in Toronto among other aviation incidents, claiming these events occurred in the U.S. since Trump took office last month. Since then, the Trump administration has faced criticism for firing hundreds of employees at the Federal Aviation Administration, with concerns that these cuts could jeopardise public safety.
“US flight 4819 of Delta Airlines crash lands UPSIDE DOWN in Toronto, marking the 8th plane crash in 20 days since Trump/Musk fired FAA/ATC staff,” the caption reads.
Several commenters point out that Toronto is not in the United States, and therefore should not be included in the list of U.S. aviation incidents. In response, the poster humorously acknowledges the mistake, suggesting the post was intended as a tongue-in-cheek joke.
“You’re right, ma’am. Our news department completely overlooked that Toronto is not in the United States,” @100NEWS replies to one commenter, and adds, “It is AI, sir. Like all of your friends,” to another.
RATING
A visual analysis of the image, along with the Grok logo and suggestions from AI detectors indicating the image was artificially generated, was further confirmed by the uploader, who acknowledged that the image was AI-generated.
SOURCES
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: TRUMP AIR DISASTER 8: [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
El Heraldo (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: Entre el fuego y temperaturas bajo cero [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Plano Informativo (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: Entre el fuego y temperaturas bajo cero [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
La Patilla (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: Entre el fuego y temperaturas bajo cero [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
NEWS9 (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: news9live [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Mirror NOW (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: Mirror NOW [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Newsweek Romania (Feb 18, 2025) Available at: VIDEO Accident aviatic în Canada [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
msn.com/es-mx (Feb 17, 2025) Available at: Avión Delta Airlines de EEUU a Toronto se estrella, perdió las alas, iban 80 pasajeros a bordo [Accessed 18 Feb.
2025].
Eurovision Social Newswire (Feb 18, 2025) Available at: Passenger records his exit from plane after crash at Toronto airport [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
AI image detector: Hivemoderation.com. (2025). Hive Moderation. [online] Available at: https://hivemoderation.com/ai-generated-content-detection [Accessed
18 Feb. 2025].
AI image detector: Sightengine (2025). Detect AI-generated media at scale. [online] Available at: https://sightengine.com/detect-ai-generated-images [Accessed
18 Feb. 2025].