Photo Doesn't Depict "Angel Flight" Returning Fallen Soldiers
The Claim
A photo depicts U.S. military aircraft shooting flares in the shape of an angel to return fallen soldiers.
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The photo went viral on social media in May and June 2021. The caption accompanying the post reads: “This is the plane that brings our dead military home. It is made so that when they shoot their salute for their service it looks like an angel carrying them home. Their call sign is angel flight and they have priority in US air space."
Some social media users even called out fact-checkers to respond to the image.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that the claim is false. There is no such thing as an “Angel Flight” in the U.S. military. Angel Flight is an organization that flies people in need of medical and compassion flights, but it is unrelated to the military.
U.S. military aircraft do not use flares like seen in the photo when returning fallen service members. They only use them to help evade missile attacks. Air shows will often use flares as part of their maneuvers, but air shows do not use their aircraft to transport fallen soldiers.
We also conducted a reverse image search of the photo and found that it appears to depict a Russian Ilyushin Il-76, which is not used in the U.S. military.
The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations page says it conducts what is called a “dignified transfer mission” to transport fallen soldiers. This does not include an angel flight.
