Disturbing viral photo of airplane wing covered in what appears to be duct tape is no cause for concern, experts say

A photo of an airplane wing covered in tape went viral this week. David Wakeham/Twitter

• A photo of an airplane wing covered in what appears to be duct tape went viral this week. 
• Experts told CheckMate the tape is "speed tape," a commonly used tool to cover peeling paint. 
• Officials say the tape is no cause for concern and poses no risks. 

A photo of an airplane wing covered with what appears to be duct tape threw the internet into a tizzy this week, but experts say, don't worry. 

The image in question first drew attention after Australian opera singer David Wakeham posted it to Twitter on September 22 alongside the caption, "When choosing your favourite airline, choose wisely. @Qantas Profits before safety." It quickly gained traction on other platforms like Facebook and Reddit, with commenters speculating on whether there was cause for concern. 

However, an investigation by CheckMate — a weekly fact checking newsletter produced by RMIT and ABC — found the image "is not what it seems."

CheckMate reported that the tape in the photo is not a makeshift attempt at repairs, but instead a commonly used tool among airlines called speed tape, which is used to cover peeling paint. 

The newsletter said the plane in the photo appears to be a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a model the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration documented in 2020 is "prone to paint adhesion failures due to Ultra Violet (UV) ray damage." 

Boeing did not immediately respond to Insider's request to comment, but a spokesperson told Simple Flying in December 2021 the "peeling does not affect the structural integrity of the wing, and does not affect the safety of flight."

According to CheckMate, the photo appeared to be taken at the Qantas Domestic Terminal at Melbourne Airport, though it remains unclear if the plane in the image is in fact a Qantas plane. 

Though Wakeham calls out Qantas specifically in his post, the airline told Yahoo News earlier this week that "it did not believe the image was of one of their planes." Qantas did not immediately respond to Insider's request to comment. 

Regardless, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority told CheckMate it was aware of peeling paint, and said speed tape can be used in "accordance with approved maintenance instructions," adding that "approved temporary repairs do not pose a safety risk to passengers."