Mayor hits out at Netflix after claims it used real footage of train disaster

This image released by Netflix shows Sandra Bullock in a scene from the film, Bird Box
AP
Sophie Williams17 January 2019

The Mayor of a Canadian town has criticised Netflix after claims that actual footage of a train disaster was used in hit film Bird Box.

Lac-Mégantic Mayor Julie Morin claims that footage of a train derailment that killed 47 people has been used in the film.

She has called on the streaming service to look into its catalogue to ensure that the footage and any other real footage of disasters is not used.

The BBC claims that Netflix will not be removing the clip from the film.

It’s not the first production by the streaming site to use the clip.

Scorched oil tankers remain on July 10, 2013 at the train derailment site in Lac-Megantic
AFP/Getty Images

Peacock Alley Entertainment apologised for use of the footage to illustrate news coverage of a nuclear attack in London.

It said that it acquired the footage from stock image company Pond 5 and said it would be replacing footage used in the show.

The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster was one of the worst in Canadian history.

In July 2013, a train loaded with over seven million litres of fuel rolled into the downtown area and exploded.

47 people were killed and half of the downtown area was destroyed.