A video of a helicopter attempting to land in an area in Burnsville, North Carolina, where supplies are being stored for victims of Hurricane Helene has been viewed millions of times online, with many claiming it shows an unidentified government plane sent to destroy the aid.
The allegations have been used in support broader disinformation narratives who have grown following the severe Category 4 storm, as federal, state and local governments work with a range of groups to address the extensive destruction in the area.
The North Carolina National Guard released a statement Tuesday confirming that it was one of their helicopters attempting to deliver a generator to the site.
Here’s a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: A video shows a U.S. government helicopter in Burnsville, North Carolina, deliberately destroying supplies for Hurricane Helene victims.
THE FACTS: The North Carolina National Guard This is stated in a statement issued on Tuesday that the video shows one of the helicopters attempting to deliver a generator, requested by a local civilian organization, to power their supply distribution site. As the helicopter descended into a Burnsville parking lot As it was used for relief efforts, it kicked debris and supplies onto the site and dropped canopies. The landing was aborted for safety reasons. According to the statement, the helicopter crew is on the ground until the investigation into the incident is completed.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Major General Todd Hunt, adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard, said: “That was a North Carolina National Guard helicopter. It is under our command and I take responsibility for it and we own it.”
“As they got closer, they noticed that there were too many people and too many tents and goods too close to the landing site. So they turned on the power to take off again, like a go-around in a helicopter. And the rotor wash caused that damage,” Hunt said.
The video was shared first on TikTok by user @megnbacn, a dog trainer who said she was setting up a K9 command post. The video had been viewed about 6.7 million times as of Wednesday.
A caption she shared with the video states that the helicopter “tried to destroy the distribution area created by the locals.” The text that appears on the video itself suggests that it could have been flown by “special forces or private contractors” and asks: “So who were they? Why did they do this?”
In a follow-up to TikTok, @megsnbacn called the incident “really weird” but encouraged viewers to “try to keep your speculations and stuff to yourself.” She did not respond to requests for additional comment.
Others who shared the video made similar claims.
“Masked FEDS fly unmarked helicopters into Hurricane Helene staging areas and purposefully destroy relief intended for victims in western NC,” reads an X-post that had about 11,000 likes and more than 7,600 shares. “The government has declared war on the American people.”
Some reports described the plane as “Kamala Harris Blackhawk Helicopter,” suggesting the vice president and Democratic presidential candidate were to blame.
Hunt’s comments confirmed information contained in Tuesday’s Guard statement about the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter incident.
Local officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 with winds of 225 km per hour. The storm killed more than 200 people caused widespread destruction and left millions without power. Recovery continues as some areas have also been affected by Helene Prepare for Hurricane Miltonanother major storm that ranged between Category 4 and Category 5. It is expected to make landfall late Wednesday.
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