Tesla Driver Debunks Misinformation After Dashcam Captures Near Miss with Aircraft

In a heart-stopping incident captured on video, a Tesla driver in Oklahoma City narrowly escaped what could have been a catastrophic collision with a low-flying aircraft. The dramatic footage, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, shows the terrifying moment when an airplane swerved across a highway median, barely missing the driver’s vehicle.

TikTok user Matthew (@mtopchian1) shared the startling footage on October 23, showing his Tesla traveling in the left lane of an Oklahoma City road at 2:40 p.m. when the aircraft suddenly appeared at dangerously low altitude, crossing the roadway directly in front of his vehicle.

“That plane looks a bit low to me,” Matthew quipped in his post, displaying remarkable composure given the gravity of the situation. The video prompted numerous reactions from viewers, with many using humor to process the shocking scene. One commenter joked, “Driving instructor here, he made an illegal move crossing the double yellow. Hope this helps.” Others acknowledged the genuine danger, with one user simply stating, “This is terrifying.”

While the near-miss itself was alarming, what followed may be even more concerning for public safety. According to a report by Electrek, the video was quickly repurposed across social media with a dangerous false narrative: that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system had saved the driver by autonomously avoiding the plane.

This misinformation gained significant traction when it was amplified by high-profile accounts, including Elon Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, and even Russia’s state-controlled media outlet RT. The false claims portrayed the incident as a triumph of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology.

However, when directly asked by another social media user whether he had been using FSD or driving manually during the near-collision, Matthew clearly refuted these claims. “Manually, the FSD is really good, but it woulda absolutely macked that plane,” he replied, confirming he was in full control of the vehicle at the time.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing controversy surrounding Tesla’s driver assistance systems. The electric vehicle manufacturer currently faces multiple lawsuits over its FSD promises in the United States, China, and Australia. In California, a judge recently approved a class action lawsuit challenging Tesla’s claims about its autonomous driving capabilities.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode is officially classified as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), not a fully autonomous driving solution. Industry analysts have repeatedly emphasized that despite its name, FSD requires constant driver attention and readiness to take control.

Transportation safety experts warn that exaggerated claims about autonomous driving capabilities can create dangerous misconceptions among consumers. When drivers overestimate what their vehicle’s ADAS can do, they may become complacent behind the wheel, potentially leading to accidents.

One Electrek commenter suggested the spread of misinformation might be strategically timed, writing, “Expect an uptick in dishonesty from these folks as we approach the bagholders’ vote,” referring to Tesla’s upcoming shareholder meeting scheduled for November 6.

The Federal Aviation Administration has not issued a statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear why the aircraft was flying at such a dangerously low altitude in an urban area. Aviation safety protocols typically require minimum safe altitudes to be maintained over populated areas.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in the autonomous vehicle space, where the gap between technological capabilities and public perception continues to pose safety concerns for road users and manufacturers alike.