fact-check: viral UFO video over Natuna waters – AI-generated or genuine?

A viral TikTok video claimed an alien UFO sighting over Natuna waters, Indonesia. The content, viewed over 14 million times, sparked heated debates online as it was suspected to be AI-generated. The footage showed a spiky, star-shaped object maneuvering over the sea, accompanied by a military-style Head-Up Display (HUD). The post claimed it was ’ technical footage from a CN-235 aircraft sensor’ linked to the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL). DW Fact-Check: False and AI-made. Verification steps: DW’s fact-checking team used Hive Moderation, an AI content detector. initial results showed low probability of AI involvement, with ’ not likely to contain AI-generated content’. However, visual inspection revealed odd details and movements typical of AI-generated visuals. Further searches on TikTok using ’ UFO’ and ’ Natuna’ found identical videos labeled ‘Contains AI-generated media’ by TikTok. re-checking with Hive Moderation showed 97.3% probability of AI creation, indicating inconsistent AI detection tools. Claim that the video was from TNI AL’s CN-235 during a patrol on 8 April 2026 was unsupported. No official reports, military documents, or credible news supported the narrative. DW contacted TNI AL, who stated the aircraft in question was undergoing maintenance in Surabaya on that date. They also confirmed military patrol recordings are classified and not shared publicly, suggesting the video was fabricated using hoaxes or AI to go viral. Chappy Hakim, Chairman of Indonesia Air Power Study Centre, retiredAir Marshal, stated ‘If it is true, the TNI’s public affairs center would explain. It is their role to clarify to the public to avoid misunderstandings, unrest, or chaos,’ he told DW. The viral video coincided with increased public interest in UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), a term replacing UFOs. The USDepartment of Defense has released 222 UAP reports, but most remain unexplained without confirming extraterrestrial origins. NASA’s 2023 study found no conclusive evidence of alien origins in UAPs. BRIN’s Space Research Centre chief, Emanuel SungGING Mumpuni, noted such phenomena have existed since the 1960s, with recent viral attention due to US disclosures, but not a new occurrence.