K-pop superstars BTS were not killed in a plane crash, contrary to Facebook posts claiming otherwise.
"BTS group that drove the entire world into a frenzy killed in a plane crash," according to the superimposed text in Sinhala language along with a photo of a plane crash posted on Oct. 19 by Facebook account under the name of Chinthaka Prasad, AFP Fact Check reported.
The same hoax was uploaded by Facebook account Tharaka Darshani but has since been deleted.
BTS members are alive and are in Seoul preparing for their “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage” online concert to be held on Oct. 24.
“The photo actually shows a private jet carrying American pawn shop employees that crashed in Honduras in 2018. The image, purportedly a screenshot of a news report from Sinhala-language breaking news service Esana, includes a photo of a plane crash,” AFP Fact Check reported.
It added that through reverse image search, the plane crash photo was published by the Associated Press news agency on May 22, 2018, with a headline: "Honduras Plane Crash.”
The original photo's caption stated: "A fire truck sprays with foam a white Gulfstream jet that appears broken in half near the center, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The private jet crashed off the end of the runway at Tegucigalpa's airport Tuesday, but the crew and passengers were rescued and reportedly out of danger, according to Honduras emergency management agency." No one died in the plane crash, added AFP Fact Check.
BTS will also hold their in-person concert “BTS Permission to Dance On Stage-LA” on Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 1 and 2 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.