Fans of the show took to social media to vent their anger at the broadcaster over the timing of the episode, following the Russian airline tragedy in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
How insensitive #bbc #doctorwho people died this week on a plane crash! Shocking
— jane ishmael (@jish34) November 7, 2015
The A321 aircraft, en route to St Petersburg, crashed not long after taking off from the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on October 31, killing all 224 people on board.
Well start of #DoctorWho is a bit insensitive considering the Russian plane that went down in the week.
— Sci-Fi & Horror News (@UKprimeval) November 7, 2015
While investigators have not yet determined the cause of the accident, there is speculation that the jet may have been brought down by a bomb planted in the plane's storage compartment.
Given what's just happened in Egypt, and the current climate we live in, it's insensitive and tasteless to shot a plane down. #DoctorWho
— Jennifer Johnstone ♔ (@AppleTreeStorie) November 7, 2015
Many viewers accused the BBC of being "insensitive" after watching the Doctor Who episode, which featured an evil character trying to shoot down a plane with a missile.
However, the BBC hit back at criticism, with a spokesperson from the broadcaster telling the Sunday Mirror:
"The episode was clearly signposted as science fiction set in a fantasy world and no one died in the scene."
Many other viewers also defended the show, saying that the episode was filmed earlier this year, long before the recent jet tragedy.
— Gabriel Clark (@gabrielwclark) November 8, 2015
@jish34 Yeah very insensitive… it's not like it's written and filmed months in advance… get over it!! #DoctorWho
— Nicholas Brent (@Nick_Brent101) November 8, 2015
Investigators are looking into the incident in Egypt to try and find the reasons behind the plane crash.
"Doctor Who's so insensitive after showing a plane exploding"…despite being filmed months ago, get a grip people! #DoctorWho
— Nick Carstairs (@NickCarstairs) November 7, 2015
