Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
MH370, the Malaysia Airlines Flight that disappeared nine-year-ago has been found under the ocean with “no human skeletons.”
Fact
Photograph of an out-of-service Lockheed Martin Tristar that was sunk into the Red Sea to encourage dive tourism in Jordan’s Aqaba.
A photograph of an aeroplane underwater is going viral on social media platforms with users linking it to the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that went missing in March 2014. Several social media users shared the photograph as evidence to assert that the MH370 “has been found under the ocean with no human skeleton…” Newschecker found the claims to be untrue.
The image is being widely shared online with the caption, “Malaysia Airplane MH370 that disappeared 9 years ago has been found under the ocean with no human skeleton. The plane had 239 passengers on board.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. The plane had 239 passengers and crew members onboard. Despite intensive search, neither anything about the plane nor its passengers has been discovered so far.
Also Read: Giant Fish Attack In Canada? No, Animated Video Viral With False Claims
Fact Check/Verification
We looked up the viral image on Google lens which led us to a Facebook post, dated December 22, 2021, by @redseadivecenter. The post carried multiple images of an aeroplane lying on the seabed with the caption, “Tristar plan wreck.Red Sea, Aqaba, Jordan (sic)”
We compared one of the images posted by @redseadivecenter with the viral photograph, and found several similarities between the planes.
Taking a clue, we conducted a keyword search for ”Tristar plane wreck” on Google which yielded an Instagram post by @deepbluedivecenter, dated April 7, 2023, carrying a video of an underwater plane.
After comparing the initial few frames of the video titled ‘“Tristar Airplane Wreck📍Red Sea, Aqaba 🇯🇴,” with the viral image, we concluded the latter to be a screengrab from the clip posted by @deepbluedivecenter.
A CNN report, dated July 22, 2022, carried an image of the aeroplane wreck from a different angle with the caption, “Underwater Lockheed Martin Tristar becomes a haven for divers.”
The report further added that the plane was abandoned in early 2000s, and “after being parked and apparently forgotten for years at King Hussein International Airport near the shores of the Red Sea, the plane was sunk into Jordan’s Gulf of Aqaba with the aim of encouraging dive tourism and coral growth…”
According to Aqaba’s website, “The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) scuttled a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar in the waters of the Red Sea next to King Abdullah Reef dive site, and adjacent to Aqaba Container Terminal…The Tristar was sunken at that depth range to create an artificial diving site and a new eco-tourism product added to the previously developed dive sites. “
Also Read: Hindu Temple Found Under Pyramids Of Giza? No, Viral Photo Shows Painting In Ancient Priest’s Tomb
Furthermore, we did not find any credible reports either on the discovery of wreckage of Malaysia’s MH370 aircraft, or about the passengers aboard.
Conclusion
Viral post claiming that the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared nine years back, was discovered under the ocean with no human skeletons is false.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @redseadivecenter, Dated December 22, 2021
Instagram Post By @deepbluedivecenter, Dated April 7, 2023
Report By CNN, Dated July 22, 2022
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
