Top 30 Scariest Things Caught on Live TV News

During a press conference outside the White House, TV viewers were shocked to see what appeared to be a ghostly figure watching then-president Barack Obama from a window of the White House. Many immediately dismissed the idea of a ghost, noting that the image was likely just a reflection. However, others insisted that the odd face-like shape looked different from other reflections in the window. Assertions of White House hauntings may seem shocking, but they certainly aren’t new. Reports of eerie apparitions and ghostly encounters in the Executive Mansion date back to the 1800s. The Obamas even reported hearing strange noises in the night during their time there, making the idea of a phantom observer less far-fetched than you may initially think.

It’s one thing to be a sore loser, but these hockey fans took their outrage to the next level following the 2011 Stanley Cup. When the Boston Bruins defeated the Canucks, a violent mob broke out in downtown Vancouver which led to a number of fires, stabbings, and lootings. The riots resulted in approximately 150 injuries, as well as almost $10 million in damages and legal fees. Many local news stations sprung into action, capturing firsthand footage of the riots and broadcasting them live to the public. It was an almost dystopian scene to witness, but people all around the world were fascinated to watch such a horrendous public response to a major sporting event.

When a mysterious blue light blazed over the skyline in New York City in 2018, terrified onlookers didn’t know what to think. As hundreds of eyewitnesses grabbed their phones to record the awe-inspiring sight, others watched the events unfold live on the news. Everyone wondered: What could cause such an ethereal blue glow? Aliens? Bombs? People flooded social media in search of answers. Thankfully, the source was soon revealed. A transformer explosion in Astoria had created a sustained electrical arc strong enough to light up the sky for miles around. Although the fire itself was small, it wreaked havoc citywide, creating blackouts and subway delays—and that unforgettable neon blue glow that temporarily turned night into day.

A seemingly ho-hum airport interview with the coach of Denmark’s national women’s handball team started making waves online in 2016. But it wasn’t the actual interview that garnered so much attention—it was something creepy that happened in the background. As the interview progressed, a woman who could be seen standing nearby appeared to vanish into thin air as another woman walked past her. While the footage had many people convinced they’d witnessed something supernatural, others quickly pointed out that she probably just walked away when the other woman passed by, unintentionally concealing her departure. An otherworldly phenomenon or a perfectly timed exit? You decide.

In 2007, as a man led police on an hours-long chase in Phoenix, Arizona, five news helicopters captured the action live from the sky. Viewers watched the pursuit from home until the live feed from two of the stations inexplicably stopped. The reason for the abrupt end became clear when other news crews on the scene began reporting that the two stations' helicopters had collided in mid-air. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown, but it’s assumed that the pilots simply failed to check for other helicopters in the vicinity. Unfortunately, no one aboard either aircraft survived. In light of the tragedy, the city implemented new protocols for helicopter reporting, and all local English-language stations now share a single helicopter.

Journalists are trained to think on their feet and to prepare for the unexpected. But no one could have anticipated what happened to two unsuspecting Virginia news employees in 2015. While conducting a live interview for station WDBJ, reporter Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward were ambushed by an armed assailant. Shocked viewers heard gunshots and screams before the live feed died amid chaos and abruptly cut back to the anchor at the news studio. Both Parker and Ward died from their injuries on the scene. Vicki Gardner, who Parker was interviewing at the time of the attack, was wounded but later made a full recovery. The gunman was identified as a disgruntled former employee who was let go by the station in 2013.

The 1980s brought significant change and economic growth to China. The population was divided over these dramatic shifts, with some people supporting the increased freedom while others wished to preserve state control. Soon, protests became common, particularly among university students favoring further political reform. In April 1989, following the death of Hu Yaobang, a well-known economic reformer, thousands of protestors gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The government declared martial law to remove the encamped protestors. In June, troops and tanks descended on the area, killing hundreds. Horrified viewers watched as coverage from Beijing flashed across the news. Footage of an unidentified civilian standing alone in front of a line of tanks became one of the most enduring images of the decade.

On the night of February 20, 2003, flames engulfed The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in a matter of moments. Pyrotechnics went off during Jack Russell’s Great White band’s first song. The display ignited the soundproofing insulation in the walls and the resulting fire grew rapidly. Patrons pressed toward the doors, desperate to flee the intense heat and thick smoke. But several people tripped, piling up at the doors and blocking the only means of escape. As the situation escalated, local news station NBC 10 interrupted its regular 11 p.m. programming to broadcast the story. More than 200 people were injured, and 100 people died as a result of the blaze.

One of the most terrifying and defining moments of the 1980s played out live in front of millions. The much anticipated Space Shuttle Challenger launch was associated with the new Teacher in Space Project, an initiative designed to cultivate student interest in science, math, and space technology. Teachers across the country wheeled TVs into their classrooms on the morning of January 28, 1986, to watch Christa McAuliffe become the first teacher in space. But just 73 seconds after takeoff, disaster struck. Viewers nationwide sat in stunned silence as the spacecraft broke apart and disintegrated off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. All seven people on board perished, including McAuliffe. The incident was the first fatal in-flight spacecraft accident in U.S. history.

On March 11, 2011, the Tōhoku earthquake became the largest recorded seismic event in Japanese history. The massive quake triggered a horrifying chain of events. A large tsunami with waves reaching an estimated height of 132 feet struck the coast shortly after. The devastating rush of water destroyed homes and critical infrastructure and claimed numerous lives. The accompanying snowfall and freezing temperatures crippled early rescue efforts. Further complicating matters, a power grid failure led to the biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. The incident, known as the Fukushima nuclear accident, resulted in the release of radioactive contaminants throughout the surrounding area, including several evacuation zones. Worldwide, viewers were transfixed as these events played out in the news.

Sometimes you have to wonder how journalists get talked into holding animals on live TV. Boston sport anchor Steve Burton was handling an alligator, and you can tell he’s a little nervous. Then, he makes the unfortunate mistake of getting it too close to the other reptile in the room. The two four legged guests clearly had some kind of argument before the newcast, because the proximity got them all riled up. As the alligator tried to squirm out of Burton’s grasp, everyone must have been picturing those sharp teeth taking a bite. Luckily the handlers quickly got the situation under control. Burton still looked a little out of sorts, but the handlers clearly thought it was pretty funny.

This incident was scarier for the reporter in question than the viewing audience. However, most of us can understand the primal fear inspired by something big flying at your face. Fox TV reporter Brad Wills was ready to report from the beach, when a giant bug came straight for his head. He screamed in terror and smacked it away. After a quick recovery, Wills finally thought to ask his cameraman if the feed was live. It definitely was, and everyone got to enjoy the blooper at home.

Disagreements between political parties are to be expected. However, this debate came to blows. When Greek politician Rena Dourou, from the Coalition of the Radical Left, said that Ilias Kasidiaris’ neo-Nazi party would take the country back centuries, he decided to prove her point. He threw water in Dourou’s face, and when Communist Party member Liana Kanelli hit him with a newspaper, he slapped her three times in the face. Kasidiaris was restrained in a room backstage, but broke through the door and left before police arrived. He’s currently in prison for directing a criminal organization implicated in violence against anti-fascists, activists, and immigrants.

Although journalists know better than anyone that crime can happen at any time, this incident was disturbing for both reporter and audience alike. CNN’s Bruna Macedo was on the scene in Sao Paulo, Brazil to report on rising river levels. Early in the report, a man can be seen watching her from a bridge in the background. Later in the broadcast, Macedo was approached by the menacing figure. While the studio co-host continues to talk, the assailant confronts the surprised reporter. Although not clearly visible on camera, the mugger threatened her with a knife until she handed him two cell phones. The thief then fled. Thankfully, nobody was injured.

Haunted dolls are really only scary if you believe in ghosts. However, There’s no denying the terror a moving vehicle can inspire. In 2016, the viewers of KTVU news feared for the life of reporter Alex Savidge. He was facing the camera with his back to the street. Viewers watched in fear as a bumped car veered directly towards the reporter. Luckily, the photographer on the scene warned Savidge just in time. They both jumped out of the way as the car smashed into the camera. While staring at a lone hubcap on screen, viewers must’ve been relieved to finally hear someone call out that everyone was OK.

We’ve all heard that it's dangerous to be at the highest point in the area when lightning strikes. So standing on a roof to do a storm weather report seems like a bad idea. Regardless, that’s where Dave Malkoff was for this broadcast. In the middle of his sentence, a large blue flash could be seen overhead. The deafening thunder clap that accompanied it was almost instantaneous, and the fear in the reporter's face was clear as day. Later, he explained that he could see a column of lightning dissipating, and that the strike was directly above him. Realizing this, he made the wise decision to get off the roof and into a safer location.

News teams are used to calmly covering natural disasters as they happen. It becomes more difficult when the catastrophe is wreaking havoc around you, though. In 2017, a Mexican news station was in the middle of a live broadcast when a 7.1 earthquake struck. The whole set started to shake. The host calmly told the viewers to follow safety protocols, as the station began to fall apart around him. Blurred shots from live cameras outside revealed the intensity of the quake. Meanwhile, inside the studio, overhead lighting began swinging wildly. It was a terrifying incident for both the news team and the viewers at home.

All you have to do is watch the panicked face of presenter Zuhair Al-Azza to see that something is about to go wrong. During a live debate about the Syrian civil war on the Jordanian show “Between Opposing Opinions,” emotions got the better of journalists Shaker Al-Johari and Mohammed Al-Jayousi. Al-Jayousi accused Al-Johari of supporting the revolution, while Al-Johari accused Al-Jayousi of supporting the government. As they lunged at each other, they shoved the desk back and forth until it completely came apart. Al-Azza was powerless to stop them, and the production team had to jump in to separate them.

On October 17, 1989, during the live broadcast of the World Series, people watching at home suddenly saw their TV sets flicker. There were panicked voices, and suddenly the broadcast cut. As audio returned, viewers could hear people shouting in the stands. The event was of course even scarier for people who were there in the ballpark. At that moment, the Loma Prieta earthquake had struck California's Central Coast, causing damage in both Oakland and San Francisco. While those in the ballpark were OK, the quake left 63 people dead and 3,757 people injured in the area.

Is there anything scarier than a creepy doll? In 2017, the viewers of a British morning show had a real-life experience with one. The guests claimed a doll was haunting their family and had even scratched the husband while they slept. During the segment, the object in question was sitting in a rocking chair on the set. As the show hosts were discussing the incidents with the owners, the chair began to slowly rock. There were many tweets from audience members and people freaking out about the seemingly paranormal occurrence. The hosts didn’t seem convinced that the haunted doll was actually spooky, but there’s definitely something creepy happening in this footage.

Reporter Tori Yorgey probably wasn’t expecting an exciting evening when she went to report on a water main break in West Virginia. Then, she got hit by a car on live TV. Viewers could clearly see the vehicle coming up behind her as she reported on the flooding. As Yorgey falls out of sight, there’s one brief horrifying moment when no one is sure if she’s seriously hurt. However, the cheerful reporter quickly bounces back into the scene. After announcing that she just got hit by a car, she blows it all off with a laugh.

During a monsoon in Phoenix, weatherman Matt Rodewald had a shockingly close call. The entire area where he was reporting was flooded. Cars were getting stuck in the roadways. The journalist was getting ready to report on the dangerous situation when a bolt of lightning struck behind him. It lights up the entire sky, and the bolt is startlingly clear. After initially moving to assess the situation, Rodewald quickly jumps back in front of the camera with a nervous laugh. Although the lightning missed the quick footed journalist, it did take out power in the area.

When anchors at a Milwaukee news station cut to an outdoor camera in the early hours of Feb. 27, 2018, they got a much stranger scenic view than they were expecting. Multiple streaks of white light could be seen moving quickly across the dark morning sky. The anchors’ first thoughts were that it could be fireworks or maybe aliens. At first their tone is light, but you can hear a growing concern as the phenomenon continues with little obvious explanation. Later the news station reported that it was a flock of seagulls reflecting early light in a long exposure camera shot. Although this seems like a logical explanation, many viewers were still skeptical.

We’re stretching our criteria for this one, as it came during a tabloid talk show - “The Steve Wilkos Show.” In 2013, viewers of local Montana station KRTV heard an unbelievable and terrifying announcement. The show was interrupted by an emergency broadcast warning of the zombie apocalypse. They were told in a calm, authoritative voice that dead bodies were rising from graves and attacking the living. The serious nature of the report had viewers worried. Many called in to local police stations. It was later discovered that the news stations’ emergency alert system was hacked and the whole incident was a hoax. Most residents probably knew that it wasn’t real. But we’re guessing that they chose to stay inside for a while… just to be safe.

In 2004, footage of an out of control helicopter stunned viewers. The scene was like something out of a movie, not a real life event. While covering an incident in Brooklyn, the aircraft started to spin and spew smoke. It clipped the edge of a building, taking chunks off the structure. The tail of the vehicle broke off and the cabin crashed into the roof of an apartment complex. Whether watching on TV or from the streets below, viewers were shocked that the pilots and reporter on board suffered only minor injuries.

Not long after JetBlue Flight 292 made it into the air, the pilots realized that they had a serious problem. The plane’s landing gear was off-kilter and wouldn’t retract. Ultimately, they decided to land at LAX, but first had to burn as much fuel as possible to make the emergency landing safer. Viewers at home watched the drama unfold on live TV. Thanks to in-flight access to DirecTV, the passengers did as well. Luckily, the video on the plane was turned off before the nail-biting landing. Although there was smoke, sparks and flame, the malfunctioning aircraft landed safely. All viewers, in and out of the plane, breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Are we alone in the universe? Maybe we already have an answer! On November 26, 1977, an Independent Television News program was suddenly interrupted in parts of southern England. A distorted voice identifying itself as ‘Ashtar Galactic Command’ ordered humans to get rid of their weapons to attain ‘a higher state of evolution’. The interruption lasted six minutes, prompting hundreds of calls from worried viewers. The perpetrator was never identified. Our species didn’t abandon its weapons, so maybe the enlightened extraterrestrials threw up their hands and wandered off to contact other worlds.

This freaks us out just to watch! In Dec 2015, the Honduran morning show Primera Edicion (or First Edition) experienced an unexpected visitation. As Carlos Molina sat at his desk, his glass of water suddenly moved of its own volition! He asked colleague Pablo Zapata if he had seen the same thing. Molina later claimed that it was not a prank, and that he had experienced a chill right before the glass moved. It could have been due to condensation on the glass … but you wouldn’t catch us still sitting at that desk, trying to figure it out.

There’s something instantly frightening about seeing a shadow where it doesn’t belong. No wonder soccer fans in Bolivia freaked out when they saw this news footage. The TV station was doing live coverage of a match at Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz, Bolivia. But the game wasn’t the biggest thing that caught peoples’ attention! A shadow could be seen sprinting through the stands. It moved through people and barriers, so it didn’t appear to be human. No one has been able to fully explain this incident. Therefore, it left many believing they’d seen a live broadcast of a ghost.

In 2011, viewers of WREX news were keeping a close eye on the weather map displayed on their screens. A meteorologist was explaining the path of an oncoming tornado. For many, this report was their tie to outside events. So imagine the trepidation they probably felt when the voice on screen suddenly cut out. One long breath later, a voice came back on air. At this point, the tornado was getting very close to the station, and things were getting unsafe. Everyone took shelter in the basement, and coverage continued. Although it was a frightening experience, the news team and viewers were in it together.



What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen live on the news? Let us know in the comments!