Fact Check: Investigating rumor video of UFO taking off from Amazon rainforest in 1987

Online claims in late 2025 suggested a video captured a UFO rising from the Amazon rainforest in 1987. The clip purportedly shows a helicopter pilot observing a disc-shaped object illuminate and lift off above the treetops, with the pilot stating:

"Command. Object in sight. Black disc. Stationary in canopy clearing. Surface: matte. No reflection. Standby. Object moving. It's rising."
"Mayday! Mayday! We're losing altitude. Command, do you c- ..."

The 20-second video circulated widely on social media, including X and Facebook, claiming the pilots instruments failed and the UFO emitted bright, concentric lights. Despite hundreds of thousands of views, investigations confirmed the video was entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence (AI).

AI Origins of the Clip

The video was first posted on TikTok on October 5, 2025, by user VOID TAPES (@voidtapes_x), amassing nearly 1 million views. The post clearly indicated the content was AI-generated, and the creator acknowledged using tools such as BigMotion.ai to produce the footage.

The TikTok caption dramatized a supposed encounter during a 1987 flight over the Amazon, describing instruments failing, turbulence, and loss of communication after the UFOs appearance. The narrative concluded with a later expedition finding only a circular clearing where the object had been, and no further sightings.

Spread Across Social Media

Following the original TikTok upload, users shared screenshots and memes of the AI-generated footage on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, often presenting it as a leaked military recording of a UFO taking off from the rainforest. Posts emphasized a bright, metallic craft moving silently and accelerating upward, with claims of instrument malfunctions during the sighting.

Despite the elaborate descriptions, analysts noted the flawless vertical ascent, lack of exhaust, and overall design were consistent with AI fabrication rather than real aerial phenomena. Experts stressed that no known aircraft or drone could match the movement depicted in the video.

Conclusion

The 1987 Amazon UFO video is confirmed as a digital creation and not authentic footage of an extraterrestrial event. While captivating to viewers, the clip illustrates how AI tools can generate convincing but entirely fictional scenarios, which can spread rapidly across social media platforms.

Author: Logan Reeves