Author: Melissa Golding
A video of a helicopter trying to land in the Burnsville, North Carolina, area has been viewed millions of times online, with many claiming it shows an unidentified government plane being sent to destroy aid supplies. Victims of Hurricane Helene store supplies.
The accusations are used to bolster a broader narrative of misinformation that has grown in the wake of the Category 4 storm as federal, state and local governments work with a range of groups to address the sweeping devastation across the region.
The North Carolina National Guard released a statement Tuesday confirming that one of their helicopters was trying to transport a generator to the scene.
Let’s take a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: Video shows a U.S. government helicopter in Burnsville, North Carolina, deliberately destroying supplies for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Facts: The North Carolina National Guard said in a statement released Tuesday that video showed one of its helicopters trying to deliver a generator to power a power point at the request of a local civilian organization. As the helicopter descended into a Burnsville parking lot used for aid efforts, it kicked up debris and supplies from the site and toppled the canopy. The landing was aborted for safety reasons. According to the statement, the helicopter crew has been grounded until an investigation into the incident is completed.
“That's a North Carolina National Guard helicopter. It's under our command and I will be responsible for it,” Maj. Gen. Todd Hunter, the adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard, said at a news conference Wednesday. We own it.
“As they approached, they noticed there were too many people and too many tents and merchandise too close to the landing site. So they powered up and took off, like a helicopter going around. The rotor wash caused this damage,” Hunter said.
The video was first shared on TikTok by user @megnbacn, a dog trainer who said she was setting up a K9 command post. As of Wednesday, the video had been viewed about 6.7 million times.
A caption she shared with the video said the helicopter was “trying to destroy a distribution area set up by locals.” Text that appears in the video itself suggests it may have been driven by “Special Forces or a private contractor,” asking: “So who are they? Why do they do this?”
In a follow-up TikTok, @megsnbacn called the incident “very weird,” but encouraged viewers to “try to keep their guesses and stuff to themselves.” She did not respond to a request for additional comment.
Others who shared the video made similar claims.
A post by “The government has declared war on the American people. “
Some posts described the plane as a “Kamala Harris Black Hawk helicopter,” suggesting the vice president and Democratic presidential nominee was to blame.
Hunter's comments corroborated information contained in a Guard statement Tuesday regarding the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter incident.
Local officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Hurricane Helen made landfall on September 26 with winds of 140 mph (225 km/h). The storm killed more than 200 people, caused massive debris and left millions without power. Recovery efforts are underway and some areas hit by Helen are also preparing for Hurricane Milton, another major storm that fluctuates between Category 4 and Category 5.
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Find AP Fact Check here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
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