#FactCheck: Old Dubai Airport Video Falsely Shared as Delhi Airport Footage After Heavy Rain
Executive Summary
A post is being widely circulated on social media claiming that the entire Delhi airport was submerged following heavy rainfall. The post questions the airport’s drainage system and attributes the situation to the negligence of its staff. The post further claims that the airport’s arrangements were exposed after just one spell of rain and that its drainage system needs to be upgraded using better technology. A research by the research wing of CyberPeace found that the viral video is not from Delhi airport but dates back to April 2024. At the time, heavy rainfall in Dubai caused flood-like conditions at the airport, affecting flight operations on waterlogged runways as well. Thus, an old video from Dubai is being falsely shared on social media as footage of Delhi airport.
Claim:
A user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shared the viral video with the caption: “Delhi Airport — the entire airport is submerged. This is the situation after just one spell of rain. A minor issue of drainage and negligence by the staff — the public is aware — now the negligence will be punished. ‘The drainage system technology must be developed.’”
https://x.com/RJMediaGroups/status/2096470339060736149
Factcheck
As part of our investigation, we conducted a reverse image search of keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the original video on a YouTube channel named The Indian Express, which was uploaded on April 17, 2024. According to the video description, the incident took place in Dubai. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9F1qTMIO5M
During our investigation, we found visuals similar to those in the viral video on the YouTube channel AlArabiyaEnglish. The video was uploaded on April 16, 2024. According to the information provided in the video description, several parts of the UAE were affected by flooding following sudden heavy rainfall on April 16, 2024. The heavy rains also affected operations at Dubai Airport, disrupting several flights. According to the report, the UAE recorded a record 254 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours. In view of the adverse weather conditions, Dubai Airport advised passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KzIstkiOdp4
Conclusion:
Our investigation found that the viral video does not show Delhi Airport after heavy rainfall. The visuals are actually from Dubai Airport, where severe rainfall in the UAE in April 2024 led to flooding and disruptions to airport operations. Therefore, the viral video is old and has been falsely shared on social media with the misleading claim that it shows the current condition of Delhi Airport.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media showing a little girl crying while holding onto a pole amid muddy water covering a road. The video is being shared with the claim that it shows the situation during the recent floods in Nepal. A research by CyberPeace’s Research Wing found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that the viral video is AI-generated and is being shared with a misleading claim.
Claim:
A user on the social media platform Instagram shared the viral video with the caption: “The situation in Nepal looks extremely frightening after the floods. Floodwater has covered the area, and the frightened face of a little girl amid the water is moving everyone emotionally. Seeing the innocent girl’s condition in this difficult situation has raised concerns among people.”
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DctRY9OF0Th/
Fact Check
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video on Google did not yield any credible media reports related to the video. Upon closely examining the viral video, we suspected that it might be AI-generated. We subsequently scanned the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. According to the results, the video has a 99 percent probability of being AI-generated.
As part of the next step of ourresearch, we scanned the viral video using another AI detection tool, Sightengine. According to the results, the video has a 99 percent probability of being AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral video is AI-generated and is being shared with a misleading claim.
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Introduction
The global food industry is vast and complex, influencing consumer behaviour, policy, and health outcomes worldwide. However, misinformation within this sector is pervasive, with significant consequences for public health and market dynamics. Misinformation can arise from various sources, including misleading marketing campaigns, unsubstantiated health claims, and misrepresentation of food production practices through public endorsement or otherwise. Nutrition misinformation is one such example. The promotion of false or unproven products for profit can lead to mislead consumers and affect their interests. Misleading claims and inaccurate information about the nutritional value of food products and processes are common claims. The misinformation created about food on the global stage distorts public understanding of nutrition, food safety, and environmental impacts, leading to significant consequences for public health, consumer trust, and the economy.
Rise of Nutritional Misinformation and Consumer Distrust
Health and nutrition-related misinformation is one of the most prevalent types in the food sector. Businesses frequently advertise their products as "natural" or "healthy" without providing sufficient data to back up these claims, tricking customers into buying goods that might be heavy in fat, sugar, or salt. Words like "superfood" are frequently used without supporting evidence from science, giving the impression that they are healthier.
Misinformation also impacts the sustainability and ethics of food production. Claims of "sustainable" or "ethical" sourcing are frequently exaggerated or fabricated, leaving consumers unaware of the true environmental and social costs associated with certain products.
This lack of clarity is not only observed in general food trends but also within organisations meant to provide trustworthy information. There has been significant criticism, directed at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), for their alleged promotion of nutrition-based misinformation to safeguard the interests of large food corporations, resulting in potentially compromising public health. The preemptive claims that IFIC made about the nutritive claims have been questioned by the National Institutes of Health, USA in November 2022. They reported in their study that IFIC promotes food and beverage company interests and undermines the accurate dissemination of scientific evidence related to diet and health. This was in support of the objective of the study, which was to determine whether, there have been many claims that the nutritional value of certain foods or diets may be manipulated to favour business goals, leaving consumers misinformed about what constitutes a truly healthy diet.
Another source of misinformation is the growing ‘Free-From’ fad. The “free-from” label in the US is a food category of products that claim to be free from certain ingredients or chemicals. It has been steadily growing by 7% annually. These labels often tout products as healthier due to a simpler ingredient list. Although seemingly harmless, transparency in ingredient disclosure is often obscured in the 'free-from' trend. This can lead to consumer distrust in the long run, making them hesitant.
The Harmful Effects of Food Misinformation
The effects of misinformation about nutrition and food safety can directly affect public health.
Consumers unknowingly may accept false claims or avoid certain foods without scientific basis and adopt harmful dietary habits, potentially leading to malnutrition or other health problems. By the time the realisation sets in about being misled, their trust is eroded not only towards such companies but also towards the regulators. This distrust can lead to declining consumer confidence and disrupt market stability.
Some food-related misinformation downplays the environmental impact that certain food production practices have. An example of such a situation is the promotion of meat alternatives as being entirely eco-friendly without considering all environmental factors. This can mislead consumers and obscure the complex environmental effects of food production systems.
Misinformation can distort consumer purchasing habits, potentially leading to a reduced demand for certain products and unfair competition. The sufferers in this case are the small-scale producers who suffer disproportionately, while the large corporations might use this misinformation to maintain their dominance in the market. Regulatory checks, open communication, and public education campaigns are needed to combat mis/disinformation in the global food sector and enable consumers to make decisions that are sustainable, healthful and informed.
CyberPeace Recommendations
- Unfair trade practices like providing misleading information or unchecked claims on food products should be better addressed by the regulators. Companies must provide clear, transparent and accurate information about their products as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. This information should include the true origins, production methods, and nutritional content on their labels.
- Promotions of initiatives and investments by public health organisations and food authorities towards educating consumers and improving food literacy should encouraged.
- Regulating social media endorsement is also crucial to prevent the spread of misinformation and unchecked claims. Without proper due diligence on product details, influencers may unknowingly mislead their audience, causing potential harm.
- The Social Media Platforms can partner with nutritionists, dietitians, and other health professionals who are content creators, as they can help in understanding and promoting accurate, science-based nutrition information and debunk any misleading claims.
- Campaigns should be encouraged to spread public awareness about the harms of food-related misleading claims or trends. Emphasis should be on evidence-based nutritional guidance. The ongoing research towards food safety, nutrition, and true information should be actively communicated to keep the public informed. Combating food misinformation requires more robust regulations, improved transparency, and heightened consumer awareness and vigilance.
References
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/label-claims-on-packaged-food-could-be-misleading-icmr/articleshow/110053363.cms
- https://www.outlookindia.com/hub4business/empowering-change-freedom-food-alliance-takes-on-global-food-industry-misinformation
- https://insightsnow.com/misinformation-hurting-food-business/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9618198/pdf/12992_2022_Article_884.pdf
Executive Summary
Amid reports of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman that led to the death of three Indian nationals, a video showing a person lying injured on a ship is being widely circulated on social media. The clip is being shared with the claim that the United States sent the body of a deceased Indian sailor to India in a “wrapped” condition. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video is unrelated to any recent incident involving Indian nationals and is, in fact, from a mock drill conducted on board a ship.
Claim:
An Instagram user ‘fakirchand.sharma’ shared the video on June 15, 2026, claiming that an Indian sailor, identified as Nishant Urthnathan, died due to health complications on a vessel anchored at Duqm port, Oman. The post further alleged that the United States returned the body in a “wrapped” condition, sparking outrage on social media. https://www.instagram.com/fakirchand.sharma/reel/DZlsxj9TIaS , https://perma.cc/C9SF-J8ZR
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to an Instagram account ‘bipul_raja_vlogs’, where the same video was posted on June 10, 2026. The original caption clearly stated that the visuals were from a fire drill conducted on board a ship. https://www.instagram.com/p/DZbnZlGPAlL
Further posts from the same account on June 15 and June 17, 2026, also show similar mock drill visuals and clarify that the content is being misused online. The account features multiple posts related to routine ship operations and training exercises. https://www.instagram.com/p/DZnEXOzCc2X
The profile also contains several other photos and videos of crew members working on the ship. We also checked the YouTube channel linked in this profile, “Sunnybabu,” where a mock drill video was uploaded on January 21, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/bipul_raja_vlogs
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video is unrelated to the death of any Indian sailor in the Gulf of Oman. The clip actually shows a mock drill conducted on a ship and is being falsely shared with a misleading narrative.
