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A dramatic photo showing hundreds of birds seemingly surrounding a British Airways plane has gone viral, fueling speculation and sparking sensational stories online. One such fictional tale claimed that a pilot named Jason heroically landed a plane on water after being attacked mid-flight by birds. The story, though gripping, was filled with inconsistencies: there was no last name for “Jason,” no mention of British Airways in the text, and wild claims about exotic bird smuggling causing the bizarre attack.
According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, about 90% of bird strikes occur at or near airports, typically during takeoff or landing. But in this viral story, the narrative veered far from reality — describing a dramatic water landing, a delayed rescue operation due to persistent bird attacks, and the eventual discovery of an illegal bird smuggling operation onboard. While inspirational on the surface, this tale falls into a category known as “glurge” — emotional stories that distort or ignore facts to push a heartwarming message.
In reality, the photo in question was not recent and has nothing to do with any such incident. A reverse image search using TinEye revealed that the image was originally taken on June 15, 2004, by photographer Adam Samu at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Hungary. The aircraft shown is a British Airways Boeing 757-236, a model retired from the airline’s fleet years ago.
Samu, who also manages the aviation website AIRportal.hu, later clarified that the birds in the photo — starlings common in Hungary — were simply startled from the grass as the plane prepared for takeoff. He explained that the image creates an optical illusion, making it appear as though the birds are much closer to the aircraft than they actually were. In truth, no birds were hit and no passengers were ever in danger.
The photo remains a striking visual, but the surrounding story is pure fiction — a reminder to question viral content and separate dramatic storytelling from real-world events.
