A Facebook reel alleged that a Qatar Airways flight made an emergency landing in water. This is from a video game.
Uploaded on June 19, the reel depicted an airplane bearing the logo of Qatar Airways landing head first into the sea, flying closely to the ground. The video was overlaid with the following text:
“Eroplano na naman sa tubig ng (sic) emergency landing (Airplane made an emergency landing in water)
Qatar”
The water landing did not actually happen. The footage is from the video game Grand Theft Auto V, uploaded on April 1, 2025 by the YouTube channel Demolition World.
The channel Demolition World included the following disclaimer under the video:
“I am not a pilot or aviation expert. This is ‘GTA 5’ game video created for entertainment purposes only. Any similarities to real events are purely coincidental. Viewer discretion is advised.”
Even with the disclaimer, some viewers were misled. Comments that suggested users thought the reel to be real include:
“Kylan po yan pakisagot ngayon ko lang nakita to (When did this happen? Please answer, I only saw this now.)”
“Mas ok pa tubig dapat may dala tayong salbabida at parachute. nakakatakot umuwi sa pinas mag lakad n kaya’ Tayo (A water landing is better, we should always bring life vests and parachutes. It’s scary to go home to the Philippines now, might as well just walk home.)”
Similar videos have circulated amid the temporary closure of Qatari airspace on June 24 (Philippine time) immediately following an unsuccessful missile attack on a United States military base in the capital city of Doha.
Hence, Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights. Some passengers reported that their flights made emergency landings at nearby airports, but no reports were made of water landings. The flagship carrier has reinstated flights since the reopening of Qatari airspace.
The reel was uploaded by the user May Lene and has since garnered over 18,300 reactions, 1,100 comments, 2,700 shares and 3.6 million views.
