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Video shows a tour of a ‘War of the Worlds’ movie set, not the scene of Nepal’s deadly plane crash
If Your Time is short
- This video shows a tour of a set from the 2005 movie, "War of the Worlds," not wreckage from the Jan. 15, 2023, plane crash in Nepal.
A Yeti Airlines flight carrying 72 people crashed in Nepal on Jan. 15, killing everyone onboard. Footage and videos of the accident and its aftermath have appeared online, but one video shared on Facebook is not what it seems.
The camera passes by what looks like a plane that’s crashed into a suburban scene. Cars, a swingset, and a sign urging drivers to slow down due to a playground are amid the rubble.
The post describes the Nepal plane crash, suggesting that this footage shows wreckage from the flight. But it’s not.
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook.)
A June 14, 2020, video posted on YouTube shows the same scene with a different description: "Studio Tour - War of the Worlds Set | Universal Studios Hollywood (2020)."
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It’s also visible in this clip from the 2005 Steven Speilberg movie "War of the Worlds," that chronicles an alien invasion and stars Tom Cruise.
Featured Fact-check
Universal Studios Hollywood offers a studio lot tour featuring sets from movies, including "War of the Worlds." The plane in that set is a Boeing 747. The plane in the Nepal crash was a twin-engine ATR 72.
Authentic photos of the crash don’t reflect the video in the Facebook post.
We rate claims that it shows the crash’s wreckage False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Jan. 16, 2023
YouTube, Studio Tour - War of the Worlds Set | Universal Studios Hollywood (2020), June 14, 2020
YouTube, War Of The Worlds Airplane Scene, July 1, 2019
IMDB, "War of the Worlds," 2005
The Associated Press, EXPLAINER: Why did Nepal plane crash in fair weather?, Jan. 16, 2023
Universal Studios Hollywood, The World-Famous Studio Tour, visited Jan. 23, 2023
The Washington Post, Why is it so challenging to fly a plane safely in Nepal?, Jan. 16, 2023
Reuters, At least 68 killed in Nepal's worst air crash in three decades, Jan. 15, 2023
U.S. Department of State, Press briefing, Jan. 18, 2023
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Video shows a tour of a ‘War of the Worlds’ movie set, not the scene of Nepal’s deadly plane crash
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