The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26 was caused by a collision with a cargo ship named the Dali. Following the incident, various rumors and inaccurate information spread in both Chinese and English media outlets, leading to further confusion.
AFCL conducted an investigation into some of the most widespread claims and rumors surrounding the incident. Here is what AFCL discovered:
Was key information about the Dali missing before the collision?
A Weibo user alleged on April 1 that U.S. authorities were unable to retrieve crucial positional data from the ship’s voyage data recorder, also known as a black box, in the moments leading up to the collision with the bridge.
However, this claim is misleading. Although the motion sensors on the ship briefly stopped for a minute before the collision, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was still able to obtain audio recordings of steering commands and rudder movements from the black box during that time.
Marcel Muise, the NTSB chief investigator for the incident, clarified in a report by CNN that the ship’s recorder stopped recording sensor data for about a minute at 1:25 a.m. on March 26, approximately four and a half minutes before the actual collision.
Despite this, audio recordings on the ship, including rudder orders and steering commands, continued to be captured without interruption using a backup power source.
Did CNN report that the Dali was loaded with Chinese goods?
Several influencers on Weibo and Douyin alleged that CNN had stated the Dali was carrying Chinese goods when it collided with the bridge, citing screenshots from an American news broadcast.
This claim is false. The screenshots misrepresented a fake CNN headline over footage from a different Baltimore local news outlet.
Upon closer inspection, the screenshots displayed noticeable differences in font style, subtitle design, headline presentation, and the appearance of the “LIVE” marker, diverging from CNN’s authentic standards.
A reverse image search revealed that the screenshots were actually taken from WBAL-TV, a television station in Baltimore.
Did the US Secretary of Transportation request paternity leave after the incident?
Another prevalent claim on Weibo suggested that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, sought paternity leave immediately following the bridge collapse.
A screenshot of a Chinese language news report indicating that Buttigieg announced his intention to take three months of leave at an emergency press conference was attached to the post.
The report, dated March 26, 2024, originated from The Babylon Bee.
However, this claim is inaccurate. The Babylon Bee is a satirical news website, self-described as “the definitive source of fake news you can trust.”
Keyword searches yielded no credible reports or official statements regarding Buttigieg’s request for paternity leave.
Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Taejun Kang and Matt Reed.
Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in today’s complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches, and in-depth reports to enhance our readers’ understanding of current affairs and public issues. For more content, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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