Fighter jet crash in Uttara triggers surge of fake AI imagery online

Shortly after takeoff on the noon of July 21, an FT-7 BGI aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Uttara. Following the incident, several images generated using artificial intelligence (AI) were seen circulating on social media, falsely claiming to depict the crashed aircraft. Dismislab identified at least six such images shared with the same claim. 

Image 1

A post from a Facebook group with three photos claims to be of the plane crash in Uttara. Upon verification, it was found that two of the three photos are of the incident, but the one showing the plane in front of the school building was created using AI.

To determine whether the image showing the aircraft was AI-generated, Dismislab used two tools called “Hive Moderation” and “AI or Not.” Analysis by each tool indicates a strong likelihood that the image circulating on Facebook was created with artificial intelligence. A visual examination of the image also reveals the signs of using AI: the English words “school” and “college” are misspelled. Moreover, while the actual crash involved the aircraft entering a building of Milestone School, the image in question shows the aircraft parked in the schoolyard, with flames visible on one side. In other words, the image has been fabricated using AI and circulated on Facebook with the false claim that it depicts the crash.

Image 2

A Facebook page posted a photo of a passenger aircraft, claiming it to be from the Uttara aircraft crash. The same image was also used in a report by an online news portal, presenting it as a photo of the Uttara crash.

However, the aircraft that crashed was not a passenger aircraft but an air force fighter jet. Furthermore, when the image was analyzed using verification tools to determine whether it was AI-generated, the result indicated a strong likelihood of it being created with AI. Moreover, in the image, the aircraft is shown in the middle of an open field, surrounded by flames, yet it appears entirely intact. In reality, the air force aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School.

Image 3

A Facebook profile posted an image showing a crashed aircraft in front of a building, claiming it to depict the Bangladesh Air Force jet crash at Milestone College in Diabari, Uttara.

Verification using multiple tools indicates a strong likelihood that the image was generated using AI. Further comparison with the actual incident reveals inconsistencies. In actuality, the aircraft crashed into a building and was destroyed. However, the Facebook image shows two aircraft appearing to have crashed — one nearly destroyed and the other partially damaged. This discrepancy suggests the image was fabricated using AI and falsely linked to the Uttara crash.

Image 4

A Facebook post featuring three videos and one image claimed to depict the same aircraft crash. Upon verification, it was found that while the three videos are from the actual incident, the image was generated using AI.

To verify whether the image was AI-generated, Dismislab used two AI detection tools, and each indicated a strong likelihood that the image was created with artificial intelligence. A visual examination of the image also revealed anomalies: the word “and” appears twice in the English name of the school — an unusual and unnatural detail. Additionally, among a group of individuals standing on top of a building, one person dressed in red and holding a stick displays unnatural arm proportions, with a noticeable discrepancy in arm length.

Images 5 and 6

“A training aircraft has crashed severely in the field of Milestone College in Uttara, Dhaka” — a social media post shared two different images of the crash with this caption. Verification revealed that both images were generated using AI.

The first image in the post shows an aircraft that crashed into a multi-storey building. However, even in simple visual analysis, it is apparent that this image does not depict the Uttara crash, as the actual incident involved the aircraft crashing into a school building, not a high-rise. Additionally, the brightness of the flames is exaggerated — a common characteristic of AI-generated visuals. Furthermore, although the front of the aircraft appears to be on fire, the rest of the plane remains intact and seems to be floating in the air — a depiction that does not align with real-life crashes. An analysis using AI detection tools further confirms that the image is likely AI-generated.

The second image in the post shows a crashed aircraft in the middle of an open field. Several inconsistencies with the Uttara crash are evident. Firstly, the aircraft that crashed in Uttara was an air force jet, whereas the one in the image appears to be a passenger aircraft. While fire and smoke are visible near the front of the aircraft and burn damage is seen at the rear, no smoke is coming from the back — an anomaly. Moreover, while the actual crash took place in a school building, the image shows the aircraft crashed in a field. Lastly, AI tool analysis indicates a strong likelihood that this image too was generated with artificial intelligence.