Viral Video of “US Aircraft Fire in Cox’s Bazar” is False
Introduction
A dramatic video circulating on social media in September 2025 claimed that a US military aircraft caught fire during joint military exercises in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The video was shared widely on Facebook and WhatsApp, accompanied by captions accusing caretaker leader Muhammad Yunus of “selling the country to America.” The footage quickly went viral, feeding into long-standing political narratives and sparking confusion among the public. However, CyberPoe’s investigation reveals that the claim is completely false and based on recycled footage of a safety drill.
The Viral Claim
The posts appeared during joint US-Bangladesh military exercises held in Chattogram and coastal areas, including Cox’s Bazar. Social media captions in Bengali asserted that a US plane had burst into flames at Cox’s Bazar Airport. The video showed passengers running in panic while smoke and fire surrounded an aircraft, making the incident appear credible. Political opponents of the interim government amplified the footage, using it as evidence of foreign interference and portraying Yunus as a Western-backed leader.
Yet, despite its virality, the claim was not supported by any credible reports from local or international media. Neither the Bangladeshi military nor US authorities released any statement acknowledging such an incident.
Evidence of Misrepresentation
CyberPoe conducted a reverse image search of the viral video and traced it to a longer clip uploaded on the verified YouTube channel of Sylhet TV on February 26, 2025. The video’s title clearly identified the event as a fire safety drill: “Plane skids off runway, then catches fire; Fire safety drill on a dummy plane at Sylhet Airport.”
Further analysis revealed that the drill took place at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, far from Cox’s Bazar. The burning aircraft in the video was not a US military plane but a dummy passenger aircraft used for firefighter training exercises.
Independent Confirmations
To ensure accuracy, CyberPoe reviewed multiple confirmations. Sadikur Rahman Saki, editor of Sylhet TV, told us that the footage documented a firefighting exercise and not an actual crash. Local Bangladeshi outlets, including Dhaka Post, also reported on the drill in February 2025, clarifying that the aircraft was a training model.
Additionally, a thorough review of official records, military reports, and credible Bangladeshi and international media showed no evidence of a US aircraft incident in Cox’s Bazar. The absence of such coverage in credible outlets further disproves the viral claim.
Political Narratives and Disinformation
This misinformation spread at a politically sensitive time. By linking a fabricated aircraft fire to ongoing US-Bangladesh military cooperation, the narrative sought to discredit Muhammad Yunus and his interim government. Critics of Yunus, particularly those aligned with the Awami League, have long accused him of being backed by foreign powers. The viral video provided a ready-made visual tool to reinforce this perception, even though the underlying footage was false.
This case demonstrates how old and unrelated content is weaponized to influence political narratives. Such tactics exploit public mistrust, turning harmless footage of a drill into a tool for disinformation.
Verified Reality
The viral video does not show a US military plane on fire in Cox’s Bazar. Instead, it captures a fire safety exercise involving a dummy aircraft at Sylhet Airport in February 2025. No evidence exists of any US aircraft catching fire during the joint drills in September.
Conclusion
The claim of a US aircraft fire in Cox’s Bazar is fabricated and misleading. The footage was deliberately taken out of context to fuel political criticism of Bangladesh’s caretaker government.
CyberPoe’s fact-check confirms:
- The video originated from Sylhet Airport, not Cox’s Bazar.
- The aircraft was a dummy used in a safety drill, not a US military plane.
- No credible source reported any such incident during the 2025 exercises.
Disinformation thrives when unchecked, but careful verification exposes the manipulation. At CyberPoe, we remain committed to debunking recycled and miscaptioned content designed to mislead the public.
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