Viral Bird-Strike Tale Turns Out to Be Fiction

A dramatic story involving a British Airways flight allegedly attacked mid-air by hundreds of birds recently made rounds online, accompanied by a striking photo. The tale described a heroic pilot named Jason who was forced to make an emergency water landing after a sudden and violent bird strike—supposedly triggered by a passenger smuggling exotic birds.

While the story captivated readers with its emotional twists, suspense, and even a triumphant uncovering of illegal wildlife trade, it was entirely fictional. Key red flags, such as the unnamed pilot, lack of verified details, and the absence of any official statement from British Airways, pointed to its fabricated nature. Despite the British Airways logo being visible in the image, the airline itself was never mentioned in the tale.

Experts note that around 90% of bird strikes typically occur near airports during takeoff or landing, making the described mid-air scenario implausible. The viral image used to support the story has also been recycled in various misleading articles and videos across obscure blogs and YouTube channels.

This narrative falls into the category of “glurge” — emotionally charged stories that aim to inspire but distort facts in the process. Platforms like Snopes have debunked similar stories, cautioning readers to be wary of sensationalism masquerading as news.