Video from Ukraine shared as showing moment of Baltimore bridge collision

Video was filmed in Ukraine in 2022

CLAIM

Video shows an explosion at the moment a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, 2024.

---

BACKGROUND

A bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, March 26, after it was struck by a ship. A large section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge plunged into the Patapsco River.

A video was posted to social media claiming to show an explosion as the ship struck the bridge.

“Alternate angle on Francis Scott Key bridge shows a large explosion,” the user posted. 

Another user who shared the video wrote: “4: Key Bridge Collapse #Baltimore another vantage point”

---

METHOD

Being familiar with the scenes portrayed in the video, we checked the date — October 8, 2022 — of the explosion that struck the Kerch Strait bridge in Ukraine. Numerous posts on social media and messaging platforms from that date contained the same video.

It would also have been sufficient simply to see that the relevant video existed online before the morning of March 26, meaning it could not show an incident that occurred on that date.

---

RATING

False. The content has been presented in a false context.

---

SOURCES

X (formerly Twitter). (2024). Available at: Alternate angle on Francis Scott Key bridge shows a large explosion [Accessed 26 Mar. 2024].

X (formerly Twitter). (2024). Available at: 4: Key Bridge Collapse #Baltimore another vantage point [Accessed 26 Mar. 2024].

Telegram. (2024). ТСН новини / ТСН.ua. [online] Available at: Попередньо, на відео – момент вибуху вантажівки на Кримському мосту. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2024].