[Bug]: iOS: Swiping down to dismiss fullscreen video results in a black screen

[Pradhyuman-nosnia]

What happened?

Title: iOS: Swiping down to dismiss fullscreen video results in a black screen

Environment

• Platform: iOS
• Library: react-native-video v6.17.0
• React Native:"^0.81.0",

Description
When playing a video in fullscreen on iOS, dismissing the video using the Close button works correctly. However, if the user dismisses the fullscreen player using the native swipe-down gesture, the application displays a black screen and becomes unresponsive. The app must be force-closed to recover.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open the Template Preview screen.
2. Tap a video thumbnail.
3. Play the video in fullscreen.
4. Dismiss the fullscreen player by swiping down.
5. Observe the application state.

Expected Result

• The fullscreen player should close.
• The user should return to the Template Preview screen.
• The application should remain responsive.

Actual Result

• The screen turns completely black after the swipe-down gesture.
• The application becomes unresponsive.
• Force-closing and reopening the app is required.

Additional Observations

• Dismissing the fullscreen player using the Close button works as expected.
• The issue occurs only when using the native iOS swipe-down gesture to dismiss fullscreen playback.
• The issue is reproducible consistently.

Impact
High. Users can unintentionally freeze the application by dismissing fullscreen video with the standard iOS swipe gesture.

Steps to reproduce

Launch the iOS application.
Navigate to the Template Preview screen.
Open a template that contains a video.
Tap the video thumbnail to open the video player.
Play the video in fullscreen.
Dismiss the fullscreen player using the native iOS swipe-down gesture.
Observe that the application displays a black screen and becomes unresponsive.

Reproduction repository

No response

react-native-video version

6.17.0

react-native version

0.81.0

react-native-nitro-modules version

0.32.1

Platforms

iOS

OS version

26

Device

Real device

Architecture

New Architecture

Expo

No (bare / React Native CLI)

Last working version

No response

Media / source type

No response

[github-actions]

Thanks for creating the issue! It will be triaged soon.

• You reported 6.17.0, but a newer version (6.19.2) is available - please retest on it and update the report if it still happens; many problems are already fixed there.
• We could not find a reproduction link - a minimal repro helps us fix it much faster, so please add one if you can.