**VERDICT: FAKE**

VERDICT: FAKE

Viral Snapshot:

🚨 BREAKING: “Sky Lanterns” Spark Nationwide Airport Lockdown – Officials Warn of Carcinogenic Ash Rain

A major panic is sweeping social media after claims that “eco-friendly” sky lanterns released during Lunar New Year celebrations are causing widespread airport closures across the country. Viral posts allege that the lanterns’ coating, once burned, releases a fine ash laced with “benzene and asbestos-like fibers,” which is drifting into jet engines and triggering a public health crisis. One widely circulated video shows a jet engine spewing orange sparks, allegedly from ingesting a lantern.

What’s Really Happening:

FAKE. The video is actually a 2019 clip of a bird strike, and no airports have issued a single closure related to lanterns this week. While it is true that some cheap, non-biodegradable lanterns contain metal wiring that can be dangerous to aircraft and wildlife, the claims of “carcinogenic chemical clouds” and a nationwide aviation shutdown are entirely fabricated. The real issue? Authorities warn that all sky lanterns are illegal in 29 countries because of wildfire risk—not because of toxic ash rain. The viral “ash rain” photos are actually stock images of industrial pollution. Bottom line: Do not share the panic. It is a hoax exploiting genuine environmental concerns.