Kangaroo spotted waiting to board an airplane? Here's how this viral video fooled the internet

Time of India

27-05-2025

A video showing a kangaroo waiting calmly at an airport with a boarding pass has taken social media by storm, gaining millions of views across platforms like Instagram, X, and Facebook. In the video, a woman is seen arguing with a flight attendant while the kangaroo stands by patiently, seemingly prepared to board a flight like any human traveler.
The marsupial's calm demeanor and expressive eyes captured the attention of viewers, many of whom were convinced the clip was authentic.
Video Originates From AI-Focused Instagram Page
Despite its realistic appearance, the video is not genuine. It was created using
artificial intelligence
and originally posted by an Instagram page called Infinite Unreality, known for producing AI-generated clips of animals in surreal scenarios. Previous posts from the account include a hippopotamus buckled into an airplane seat, a giraffe boarding a plane, and a pig in a stroller.
The
kangaroo video
fits this pattern and was clearly marked as AI-generated by the original poster. In fact, when the clip was later reposted on X (formerly Twitter), the caption included the label "(AI)," hinting at its artificial origins. Still, the highly convincing visuals led many viewers to believe the footage was real.
— itsme_urstruly (@itsme_urstruly)
Reactions and Misunderstandings
The video quickly went viral after being shared on multiple social media accounts, including one called Wholesome Side of X, where it attracted more than 4 million views. On Instagram alone, it surpassed 10 million views. Comments flooded in from amused and puzzled users alike.
Some viewers were charmed by the kangaroo's behavior, with one writing, 'The way he is holding the boarding pass waiting to be scanned.' Another user joked, 'Bro looks better behaved than most adults that board planes.' Others were simply confused, believing the video was real and expressing disbelief at what they were seeing.
A third commenter added, 'It looks like the kangaroo is the calmest one in this video,' while another sarcastically asked if the animal had passed its security screening.
AI Tools Fueling Misinformation
The emergence of this kangaroo video has reignited concerns about the increasing realism of AI-generated content and the challenges it poses in distinguishing fact from fiction. AI tools have advanced significantly, and videos like this demonstrate how easily manipulated visuals can spread confusion online.
An AI assistant named Grok also weighed in on the video's authenticity when prompted by a user. It confirmed the video was likely created with AI, citing the original post's label and the absence of any credible news confirming such an event. It also noted that while kangaroos have been spotted at airports in the past — such as in Melbourne in 2013 and during a 2021 flight — there is no record of a kangaroo attempting to board a plane as a passenger.
As fake videos continue to go viral, some users expressed frustration with the growing flood of AI-generated content. One comment read, 'These fake videos need to stop,' while another added, 'God save us from this tsunami of AI crap.'