Widespread panic and confusion erupted online Monday night following reports that Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani may have been involved in a devastating private plane crash. The claims, which originated on social media and were rapidly amplified by fan accounts, suggest that Ohtani was aboard a private aircraft that collided mid-air with another plane under unclear circumstances.
Initial posts referenced a “ghastly” and “unimaginable” scene, with some users alleging that emergency crews responded to a downed aircraft thought to be carrying the Dodgers’ designated hitter. The story gained momentum after grainy video clips of wreckage and smoke surfaced online, although none have been verified or tied to Ohtani or any known flights linked to the Dodgers organization.
Despite the explosive spread of the rumor, there has been no official confirmation from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, or Shohei Ohtani’s representatives. As of this report, major news outlets including Reuters, The Associated Press, and ESPN have not corroborated any of the claims being circulated.
This isn’t the first time Ohtani has been the subject of online aviation speculation. In late 2023, fans falsely tracked a private jet believed to be carrying him to Toronto during his high-stakes free agency period. That plane ultimately belonged to Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec, not Ohtani, and the player later revealed he had been “at home with [his] dog the whole time.”
With no official flight data, passenger manifests, or credible eyewitnesses linking Ohtani to any incident in the air, aviation authorities have not opened any investigations publicly involving him. The FAA and NTSB have made no mention of an aircraft accident matching the described circumstances.
Social media analysts point to the pattern of “fan-fueled tracking” and rumor-mongering that often follows high-profile athletes, especially those as internationally prominent as Ohtani. His every move tends to generate headlines, which can make false stories spread faster than official corrections.
Until a formal statement is released, the current claims surrounding a plane crash involving Shohei Ohtani should be considered speculative at best. For now, all reliable signs point to this being another social media hoax — albeit a highly emotional and disturbing one for fans and the baseball community.
More updates will be provided as information becomes available.
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