Its clearly fear feeding by bringing it up in the context of "asking" was it a near collision with the bridge when they knew for a fact it wasn't, then pausing for drama, showing it in slow-mo so joe six pack thinks it might be, then and only then saying it wasn't. They really exaggerated the level of "internet sensation" it was too. Anything to sell copy in their failing market segment. Their socialist progressive crap isn't selling except to their declining base but they know fear of flying will always, always, always sell ad space.