False: Italy Celebrates Zero Deaths in Sky
The Claim
Italian aerobatics celebrate the record of zero death cases of coronavirus in Milan, Italy.
News posted on
Emerging story
Since May 25, media outlets and social media users started sharing and posting videos and pictures of aerobatics drawing the Italian flag in the sky. They claim it is celebrating zero COVID-19 death cases in Milan.
Al Arabiya News Channel also posted on their Facebook page footage of aerobatics drawing the Italian flag in the sky, claiming it was to celebrate lifting travel restrictions that were imposed during the pandemic.
Al Roya News TV published an article titled “Warplanes paint the Italian flag in Sky of Milan” on their official website.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar's search reveals that the video footage and photos show Italian jets flying over Milan’s Duomo Cathedral on Monday, May 25, 2020.
In fact, the show aims to pay tribute to the victims of the pandemic, and the tour will end on the 74th anniversary of the Italian Republic Day on June 2. Agencies reported that the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic squad of the Italian Airforce flew on the 74th anniversary to bring a message of unity and solidarity during the coronavirus pandemic.
The claims that the show was performed to celebrate lifting traveling restrictions or recording zero deaths are false. It was performed to pay tribute to the victims of COVID-19.
