Air China Gathers Evidence to Refute Claims That Former Pilots Fired for Safety Violations Became Honey Vendors

In a decisive move against misinformation, Air China announced Saturday it has gathered evidence against multiple social media accounts falsely portraying individuals as former pilots who were terminated following safety incidents and subsequently turned to beekeeping.

The national carrier’s investigation revealed that videos circulating on various platforms with titles like “From 10,000 Meters in the Sky to Beekeeping in the Mountains: A Female Pilot’s Comeback” and “Former Air China Captain Fired for Refusing a Flight — The Truth Hidden for Eight Years” contained fabricated claims that had no basis in reality.

According to Air China’s statement on its official WeChat account, none of the individuals featured in these videos were ever employed by the airline. The company’s verification process determined that these people were falsely representing themselves as former Air China flight crew members.

Further investigation by the airline revealed that flight details mentioned in these videos were entirely fictitious. The videos referenced flights CA1348 on November 3, 2016, and CA1832 on October 15, 2017, claiming they experienced serious incidents including single-engine emergency landings and engine damage. Air China confirmed that the purported origins and destinations of these flights did not match any routes the airline operated on those dates. Moreover, the company stated that no such aviation incidents occurred on any of their flights during those periods.

This type of misinformation represents a growing challenge for airlines and other companies in the digital age, where social media platforms can rapidly spread unverified claims to large audiences. For China’s aviation industry, which has worked diligently to build public confidence in its safety standards, such false narratives could potentially undermine consumer trust.

Industry analysts note that the aviation sector is particularly vulnerable to reputation damage from safety-related misinformation. Even unfounded rumors can impact consumer behavior and booking patterns in an industry where safety perception is paramount.

According to Air China’s statement, these fabricated stories appeared to serve a dual purpose: driving online traffic while simultaneously marketing commercial honey products. The individuals in the videos allegedly used their falsified backstories as former pilots to create compelling narratives that would attract viewers and potential customers.

“The impersonation of Air China flight crew and fabrication of aviation safety incidents were aimed at misleading the public, undermining trust in civil aviation safety, and driving online traffic to market commercial products,” the airline stated. Such actions, the company emphasized, “have seriously harmed its reputation and legitimate rights, while also misleading the public.”

Air China, which serves as China’s flag carrier and is one of the country’s “Big Three” airlines alongside China Eastern and China Southern, has a vested interest in protecting its safety reputation. The airline has urged the public to exercise caution by neither believing nor spreading these rumors.

The carrier confirmed it has collected evidence related to the false information and intends to pursue legal action. Air China stated it “will take legal action to protect its lawful rights and interests, while reserving the right to hold those responsible legally accountable.”

This incident highlights the growing intersection between social media influence, commercial interests, and corporate reputation management in China’s digital landscape. It also underscores the challenges companies face in combating misinformation that can spread rapidly across platforms before verification occurs.

Aviation industry experts point out that this case reflects a broader pattern of using fabricated personal stories for commercial gain, potentially damaging not just individual companies but public confidence in essential services like air transportation.