Baltimore bridge collapse sparks conspiracy theories online. We checked the facts
Like many tragedies before it, the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore immediately spawned an array of false claims and conspiracy theories online. Despite livestream footage showing the Dali cargo ship losing power and colliding with the bridge, social media users continue to spread false claims about the cause of the collapse and the government's response to the tragedy.
Here's a roundup of claims about the bridge's collapse from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Claim: Post implies three 'major' US bridges were damaged on March 26, 2024
Our rating: Missing context
The implied claim here is wrong. While Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship on March 26, transportation officials in Ohio and Delaware said the bridges in those states were not damaged. Read more
Claim: Image shows 'The Simpsons' predicted ship crashing into Francis Scott Key bridge
Our rating: Altered
The image is fabricated, possibly with generative AI. It is not from any episode of "The Simpsons." The show did not predict a ship crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to one of the showrunners behind the series. Read more
Claim: Mitch McConnell’s late sister-in-law was CEO of shipping company involved in Baltimore bridge collapse
Our rating: False
Chao was the CEO of a shipping company, but not the one involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse. She led Foremost Group, which a company spokesperson said is unaffiliated with Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the owner of the ship that crashed into the bridge. Read more
Claim: Cargo ship was unmanned when it crashed into Key Bridge in Baltimore
Our rating: False
There is no evidence the cargo ship was unmanned when it collided with the bridge. The ship's management company said 22 crew members were on board. The claim was made by a website that routinely publishes false claims. Read more
Claim: Obama-produced Netflix movie featured Baltimore bridge that collapsed
Our rating: False
The image in the post is not from the 2023 Netflix film produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. It's a digitally manipulated March 26 photo of the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The bridge is not shown in the movie. Read more
Claim: Image shows figure on Baltimore bridge before its collapse
Our rating: False
The bridge in the image is not the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the image predates the collapse in Baltimore by more than two decades. Read more
Claim: Video shows ‘dynamite’ detonating during Baltimore bridge collapse
Our rating: False
That’s not what the video shows, according to bridge and explosives experts. The clip shows lights flashing on and near the bridge and sparks from power cables that severed during the collapse, experts said. Officials have said there's no evidence the collapse was an intentional act. Read more
Claim: Cyberattack caused ship to crash into Francis Scott Key Bridge
Our rating: False
There is no evidence the crash was the result of an attack, cyber or otherwise, according to authorities. The ship lost power and propulsion prior to crashing into the Baltimore bridge. Read more
Claim: Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse was a false flag
Our rating: False
Footage, photos and statements by officials prove the bridge's collapse was caused by a cargo ship striking it. It was not demolished as part of a false flag operation. Read more
Claim: Video shows explosion on Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge
Our rating: False
The video does not show the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. It was taken in 2022 and shows an explosion that led to the partial collapse of a bridge built by Russia to connect the country with the Crimean Peninsula. Read more
Claim: Pete Buttigieg said collapsed Baltimore bridge was ‘racist’
Our rating: False
Buttigieg didn’t call the bridge racist. The post misrepresents comments that predate the collapse by more than two years and refer to the design of some bridges and roadways across the country. Read more
Claim: Photos show aftermath of Baltimore bridge collapse
Our rating: Partly false
The larger photo of a bridge was taken at the scene of the Baltimore incident, but a photo of a vehicle in water was not. It dates back to January 2022 and shows a car crash in Northern Ireland. Read more
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Baltimore bridge collapse sparks conspiracies online | Fact check
