Captain Sum Ting Wong: The Unforgettable News Gaffe That Rocked The Airwaves

Mr. Lane Wyman 17 Jul 2025

Have you ever heard a story so unbelievable, it makes you wonder how it even got on the air? Well, it's almost a certainty that the incident involving the now-famous "Captain Sum Ting Wong" is one of those moments. This particular tale, which, you know, spread across the internet like wildfire, highlights a truly memorable moment in live news broadcasting. It shows just how quickly information, even if it's not quite right, can get out there and become a major talking point.

This story, in a way, centers on a very unfortunate mistake made by a news station. Back then, a San Francisco television station, KTVU Channel 2, was sharing details about a plane crash. What happened next was, arguably, something no one saw coming. During their live newscast, they announced the names of the flight crew, and these names, basically, turned out to be completely made up. It was a moment that, you know, caught many by surprise and sparked a huge discussion.

The broadcast included names like "Sum Ting Wong," "Wi Tu Lo," "Ho Lee Fuk," and "Bang Ding Ow." These designations, as a matter of fact, were clearly a racially insensitive joke that had, you know, been circulating online. The news anchor, apparently, read them directly from a teleprompter, thinking they were real. This mix-up, in some respects, became a powerful example of how crucial it is to check facts, especially when sharing news with a wide audience.

The Story Behind the Name: Captain Sum Ting Wong
Details of the Infamous Designation
What Really Happened That Day
The Station's Response and Apology
The Wider Impact of the Incident
Lessons Learned from a Viral Mistake
Frequently Asked Questions About the KTVU Hoax

The Story Behind the Name: Captain Sum Ting Wong

The name "Captain Sum Ting Wong" is, you know, not a real pilot's name. It's a phrase that sounds like "something wrong" when spoken quickly, especially with a particular accent. This play on words, as a matter of fact, was part of a cruel prank. It was a joke that, apparently, originated online and was, you know, sadly picked up by a news station without proper verification. The entire situation became a classic case of how misinformation can spread, sometimes with serious consequences for those involved in sharing it.

This incident, which, you know, gained so much attention, happened during a very serious time. A plane, Asiana Airlines Flight 214, had crashed in San Francisco. People were, you know, looking for real information about the crew and what had taken place. So, when KTVU broadcast these fake names, it caused a lot of shock and, you know, quite a bit of anger among viewers and online communities. It was a moment that, basically, highlighted the importance of fact-checking in journalism.

The names broadcast, "Sum Ting Wong," "Wi Tu Lo," "Ho Lee Fuk," and "Bang Ding Ow," were, you know, clearly designed to sound like phrases that suggested a problem or, you know, were just plain offensive. The fact that they made it to air, apparently, showed a significant lapse in the station's review process. It's a story that, you know, continues to be discussed whenever people talk about media errors and the need for careful reporting.

Details of the Infamous Designation

Given that "Captain Sum Ting Wong" is not a real person but rather a fabricated name used in a news hoax, a traditional biography or personal details table isn't appropriate. Instead, we can look at the "details" of this infamous designation and what it represents.

Aspect of "Captain Sum Ting Wong"	Description
Nature of the Name	A phonetic play on words, sounding like "something wrong."
Origin of the Hoax	Racially insensitive joke circulated online, then provided to the news station.
Involvement in Incident	None. The name belongs to a fake pilot in a prank.
Associated Names in Hoax	"Wi Tu Lo" (We Too Low), "Ho Lee Fuk" (Holy F***), "Bang Ding Ow" (Bang, Ding, Ow).
Impact of Broadcast	Caused widespread shock, criticism, and became a viral example of media error.
News Station Involved	KTVU Channel 2, a Fox affiliate in San Francisco.
Date of Broadcast	Friday, July 12, 2013 (during a noon newscast).

This table, you know, helps to clarify that we are talking about a name that was part of a deceptive trick, not a real individual. It's, you know, pretty important to make that distinction clear, especially given the sensitive nature of the original event. The incident, you know, really serves as a stark reminder about verifying information, particularly when dealing with serious news stories.

What Really Happened That Day

On that particular Friday, KTVU Channel 2 was, you know, reporting on the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash. This was a very serious event that had, you know, happened just a little bit earlier. The news team was, you know, trying to get the latest details, including the names of the flight crew. Unfortunately, they received a list of names that, basically, were not real. These names, you know, had been circulating as a cruel joke on the internet.

The news anchor, apparently, read these fake names directly from a teleprompter during the live broadcast. She proceeded to read "Sum Ting Wong," "Wi Tu Lo," "Ho Lee Fuk," and "Bang Ding Ow" as if they were the actual pilots. This, you know, was captured for all to see by viewers who were, you know, paying close attention. It was a moment that, quite frankly, caused a lot of disbelief among those watching.

The video of this news report, you know, quickly went viral. People shared it widely across social media platforms and news sites. It became, you know, a very stark example of how a mistake in live television can, you know, spread globally in moments. The incident, you know, drew heavy criticism and, you know, raised many questions about the station's fact-checking processes. It was, in some respects, a truly humbling experience for the news outlet involved.

The Station's Response and Apology

After the broadcast, the backlash was, you know, immediate and widespread. KTVU Channel 2 quickly realized the very serious error they had made. The station, you know, faced a huge wave of criticism online and from other media outlets. They understood that they had, you know, deeply offended many people, especially those of Asian descent, due to the racist nature of the prank names.

The station, you know, wasted little time in expressing its regret. KTVU issued a public apology, stating, "We sincerely regret the error." They explained that they had, you know, been "victims of a cruel prank." The apology acknowledged that fake names, like "Captain Sum Ting Wong," had, you know, ended up being reported on their Channel 2 News. This was, you know, a very important step for them to take, given the severity of the mistake.

The news station, you know, also later explained that an intern at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had, apparently, mistakenly confirmed the fake names. This detail, you know, added another layer to the story, showing how multiple points of failure can lead to such a significant error. The whole situation, in a way, served as a very public lesson in the importance of double-checking information from all sources, even those that seem, you know, generally trustworthy.

The Wider Impact of the Incident

The "Captain Sum Ting Wong" incident had, you know, a far-reaching impact beyond just the immediate embarrassment for KTVU. It became, you know, a very widely discussed case study in journalism schools and media ethics courses. It highlighted, basically, the perils of relying too heavily on unverified information, especially when it comes from, you know, less official channels or online sources.

The event, you know, also sparked conversations about racial sensitivity in media. The fake names were, you know, clearly designed to be offensive, and their broadcast underscored the need for news organizations to be, you know, more aware of potential biases and stereotypes. It was a moment that, you know, pushed many to think more deeply about the content they consume and, you know, how it is presented.

Furthermore, the incident, you know, showed the incredible power of the internet to spread information, both accurate and inaccurate, at lightning speed. The video of the news report, you know, became a viral sensation almost instantly. This rapid sharing meant that the mistake was, you know, seen by millions, making it very difficult for the station to, you know, contain the damage. It was, you know, a pretty clear demonstration of how social media can amplify both news and errors.

Lessons Learned from a Viral Mistake

One of the most important lessons from the "Captain Sum Ting Wong" debacle is, you know, the absolute necessity of rigorous fact-checking. News organizations, you know, have a responsibility to their audience to provide accurate information. This means, basically, verifying every piece of data, especially when it concerns sensitive topics or, you know, comes from sources that might not be entirely official. It's a fundamental principle that, you know, got overlooked in this particular instance.

Another key takeaway is the importance of media literacy for everyone, not just journalists. Viewers and readers, you know, also have a role to play in questioning what they see and hear. If something sounds, you know, too unbelievable or seems, basically, like a joke, it probably is. This incident, you know, encouraged many people to be more critical consumers of news and to, you know, seek out multiple sources for confirmation. You can learn more about media literacy on our site.

The incident also, you know, served as a reminder that even established news organizations can make mistakes. It underscored the human element in broadcasting and the need for, you know, robust internal processes to catch errors before they go live. The KTVU apology and the widespread discussion that followed, you know, helped to reinforce the idea that accountability is, you know, very important in journalism. To be honest, it was a very public, and somewhat painful, lesson for everyone involved in the news business. You might want to check out how other news outlets handle similar situations, and you can link to this page here for more insights.

This whole situation, you know, also highlighted the dangers of racially insensitive humor. The prank names were, you know, not just funny; they were offensive and, basically, perpetuated harmful stereotypes. The fact that they made it onto a major news broadcast, you know, brought this issue to the forefront and reminded everyone of the importance of respectful language. It's a topic that, you know, continues to be relevant in today's media landscape. You can read more about media ethics and responsible reporting on reputable sites like Poynter.org.

Frequently Asked Questions About the KTVU Hoax

What was the KTVU news report about Captain Sum Ting Wong?

The KTVU news report about "Captain Sum Ting Wong" was, you know, a segment during a live newscast on July 12, 2013. The station was, basically, reporting on the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash. During the broadcast, the anchor, you know, mistakenly read a list of fake, racially insensitive names as the actual flight crew. "Captain Sum Ting Wong" was, you know, one of these fabricated names, along with "Wi Tu Lo," "Ho Lee Fuk," and "Bang Ding Ow." It was a major error that, you know, quickly went viral.

Were the Asiana Airlines pilots really named Sum Ting Wong?

No, the Asiana Airlines pilots were, you know, absolutely not named "Sum Ting Wong" or any of the other fake names broadcast by KTVU. The names were, basically, part of a cruel online prank that, you know, unfortunately made its way into the news report. The actual pilots had, you know, real names, and the station later issued a sincere apology for the error. It's, you know, very important to understand that these were not the true identities of the crew.

How did the Captain Sum Ting Wong hoax happen?

The "Captain Sum Ting Wong" hoax happened because KTVU Channel 2, you know, received a list of fake pilot names that had, apparently, been circulating as a racially insensitive joke online. An intern at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had, you know, mistakenly confirmed these names to the news station. The KTVU news anchor then, you know, read these unverified names directly from a teleprompter during a live broadcast. It was, you know, a chain of unfortunate events and miscommunications that led to the very public error.

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