Qatar Airways has issued a public clarification after a video showing a Boeing 777 freighter in the airline’s livery performing an extremely low pass over a Texas airfield went viral across social media.
The airline said the aircraft was not owned or operated by Qatar Airways at the time of the flight and that the pilots involved were not Qatar Airways personnel.
According to the airline, the Boeing 777 freighter was owned by a leasing company and was undergoing a pre-delivery test flight before its planned entry into the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet. Although the aircraft carried Qatar Airways colours, it had not yet been delivered to the airline.
The dramatic footage, filmed at Horseshoe Bay in Texas, shows the Boeing 777-200LR(F) aircraft making an unusually low pass over the runway before climbing away.
Flight tracking data also supports what the video appeared to show. Flight tracking analysis by Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft descended to within the ADS-B system’s margin of error for runway level after correcting for local pressure and field elevation, consistent with the exceptionally low pass seen in the video.
The aircraft’s operator, Texas-based leasing and aviation services company Jetran, also issued a statement distancing itself from the manoeuvre. It said the flight “does not reflect operational standards” and confirmed the aircraft was on a final pre-delivery test flight for Qatar Airways Cargo. The company added that it expects the relevant authorities to investigate the incident.
“We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a freighter aircraft conducting a low-pass flight in a manner that does not reflect operational standards. While the aircraft is painted in Qatar Airways livery, it was not owned or operated by Qatar Airways, did not carry a Qatar Airways registration, and the pilots on board were not Qatar Airways pilots. The aircraft was undergoing a final pre‑delivery test flight prior to its planned entry into the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet. We expect the relevant parties and authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action.”
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it is investigating the incident.
Why Qatar Airways issued a clarification
The video, first posted on June 25, quickly attracted millions of views across social media, with many aviation professionals questioning the safety of the manoeuvre and calling for an investigation. Although it soon became clear that the aircraft had not yet been delivered to Qatar Airways and was not operating under the airline’s registration, many viewers assumed it was a Qatar Airways-operated flight because it carried the airline’s distinctive cargo livery.
Against that backdrop, Qatar Airways moved swiftly to clarify that the aircraft was not owned or operated by the airline, had not yet been delivered, and that the pilots involved were not Qatar Airways personnel.
Aircraft are painted in an airline’s livery before formal delivery. However, until delivery is completed, operational responsibility typically remains with the aircraft owner or the organisation conducting the test flight.
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