BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • World
      • US Comic Sam Hyde's Image In...
      World

      US Comic Sam Hyde's Image In Fighter Jet Cockpit Shared As 'Ghost of Kyiv'

      While the existence of the viral "Ghost of Kyiv" is unsubstantiated, the image of a US pilot has been edited to add Hyde's face.

      By - AFP |
      Published -  13 March 2022 12:30 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      US Comic Sam Hydes Image In Fighter Jet Cockpit Shared As Ghost of Kyiv

      Social media users are sharing an image of what appears to be US comic Sam Hyde in a fighter jet cockpit as proof that he is the mythical "Ghost of Kyiv" responsible for shooting down numerous Russian jets amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. This is false: while the existence of the viral "Ghost of Kyiv" is unsubstantiated, AFP Fact Check found that an image of a US pilot has been edited to add Hyde's face. This claim has nevertheless been taken seriously by some social media users who are not familiar with the US comic. It is part of a long-running hoax linking the comedian to tragic events worldwide.

      The claim was published on a Nigerian Facebook page called "WAFFI TV" on February 25, 2022, a day after Russia's deadly invasion of Ukraine.

      Screenshot taken on March 7, 2022, showing the false Facebook post

      "Ukrainian fighter-ace known as the 'Ghost of Kyiv's real name is Samuyil Hyde, a 36 year old who was identified as the Mig-29 Pilot accredited with downing 6 Russian Jets (sic)," reads the caption on the post.

      The same claim was tweeted here with the same photo.

      The posts create the impression that "Samuyil Hyde" is the hitherto unidentified Ukrainian combat pilot nicknamed the Ghost of Kyiv who is purportedly responsible for shooting down six Russian fighter jets.

      Who is Sam Hyde?

      Hyde, who is known for his internet pranks, co-founded the comedy group Million Dollar Extreme. The group was behind a 2016 television series on Adult Swim called "World Peace".

      A 2019 BuzzFeed News report by misinformation specialist Craig Silverman explained how Hyde had become the target of hoaxes claiming he was responsible for nearly every recent mass shooting.

      These accusations made "Sam Hyde is the shooter" into a popular internet meme.

      Comedian Sam Hyde, as seen in a YouTube video ( YouTube / Million Dollar Extreme)

      For instance, on November 5, 2017, an unidentified gunman opened fire on worshippers at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people. Democratic representative Vicente González of Texas later fell for the long-running hoax by telling CNN that the shooter was identified as Hyde, according to the New York Times.

      "Apparently, his name was released as Sam Hyde," González told CNN. "That was a name I was — I was given. We don't know any more details."

      Just like González, Republican representative Adam Kinzinger more recently fell into the same trap. The politician tweeted the claim about Hyde being the "Ghost of Kyiv" and deleted it after 17 seconds, according to Politwoops, which tracks deleted tweets by public officials

      Old image

      There is no evidence the "Ghost of Kyiv" even exists, but if he or she does, it's not Hyde in the cockpit. The image has been digitally altered to add his face.

      A reverse image search led to this 2018 article on Air Force Times which published the unedited version of the picture.

      Screenshot taken on March 7, 2022, showing the original photo on Air Force Times

      The caption in the story explains that the image was actually taken in 2004 as "then-Capt. Seth Nehring prepares himself for a mission in an F-16 Fighting Falcon during operation Cooperative Cope Thunder at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska …"

      Nehring, however, was killed in 2018, according to the article, and the crash that ended his life happened during a training exercise – in Ukraine. A Ukrainian pilot also died.

      (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by BOOM staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

      Tags

      Ghost of KyivKyivRussia Ukraine ConflictUkraine
      Read Full Article
      Claim :   Image shows the mythical “Ghost of Kyiv” responsible for shooting down numerous Russian jets amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
      Claimed By :  Posts on social media
      Fact Check :  False
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!