AI Manipulation Fuels False Claims of €1,600 Evacuation Flights Amid Crisis in the Middle East

The recent claims of a woman organizing evacuation flights from Dubai for €1,600 (approximately US$1,850) have raised significant concerns regarding their authenticity. The allegations surfaced in an article published by a prominent Dutch newspaper, which later removed the woman’s image from the piece, although the interview remained intact.

Bellingcat’s investigation revealed that the image associated with the claims exhibited characteristics typical of generative AI. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support the existence of the flights mentioned in the article.

Context of the Claims

The article emerged during a critical time when many Dutch nationals were reportedly seeking urgent means to exit the region, following Iranian missile and drone strikes across the Gulf. These attacks were perceived as retaliation for U.S.-Israeli military actions. Published on March 5, the article’s headline stated, “Dutch people in the Middle East feel abandoned by the government: We just rented a plane ourselves.”

The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the article during a televised interview, emphasizing the government’s ongoing efforts to repatriate citizens.

Details of the Interview

The article included statements from several Dutch individuals attempting to leave Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including a woman named Tamara Harema. She claimed to have been rebooked multiple times by Emirates Airlines and stated that the official repatriation flights organized by the Dutch government were not operational.

Harema mentioned that she and her group were arranging buses and had chartered an Airbus A321 for their return. She asserted that the first flight was already full and that they were organizing a second flight for stranded travelers.

Discrepancies in the Photo

However, discrepancies in Harema’s photo, which was initially published, suggest it may have been generated by AI. Investigations found no records of a person matching Harema’s description, and flight-tracking data indicated that no such plane had taken off.

The image depicted the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, viewed from a hotel room. Analysis of the photo revealed inconsistencies in the architectural details, such as the height of mechanical floors and the absence of a water feature at the base of the building.

Examination of Flight Claims

In her statements, Harema claimed that buses were arranged to transport passengers from two locations in Dubai on March 7, after which a 232-seater Airbus A321 would depart from Muscat, Oman, to the Netherlands. The reported cost was €1,600 per person, without detours. Harema criticized the Dutch government’s repatriation flights, which she claimed were difficult to access despite being cheaper.

Data from flight tracking services indicated that while multiple Airbus A321s departed Muscat on March 7 and 8, none were bound for the Netherlands. The only flights arriving in Amsterdam from Muscat were either government-organized repatriation flights or scheduled services from Oman Air, none of which involved Airbus A321 aircraft.

On March 7, two Airbus A321s were recorded at Muscat Airport. One, operated by Gulf Air, later departed for Rome, while another operated by SalamAir had been inactive since March 3.

Response from the Newspaper

Following inquiries, the newspaper added a note at the end of the article explaining the removal of the photo, stating it likely did not meet their journalistic standards. The deputy editor-in-chief remarked that the editorial team had contacted Harema after being informed about her attempts to charter a plane. This led to the extraction of several quotes from her for the article.

A search for the source who provided Harema’s contact details revealed a prior report indicating that he had emigrated to Dubai after his legal firm went bankrupt, leaving clients in a difficult situation. When contacted for further comment, he confirmed knowing Harema but declined to provide additional information.

As reported by www.bellingcat.com.

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Published on 2026-03-12 14:50:00 • By Editorial Desk