New Delhi: Images of plane wreckage have recently gone viral, accompanied by claims that they depict two Indian Rafale jets shot down by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) during a counter-strike to India’s Operation Sindoor. These claims are false. The photos in question are from two separate and unrelated accidents involving Indian Air Force (IAF) jets that occurred years earlier.

The first image shows the wreckage of a MiG-21 fighter jet that crashed in a field in Langeana Khurd village, Moga, Punjab, on May 21, 2021. The pilot, Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary, lost his life in the incident. The second image depicts the wreckage of an IAF MiG-29 that crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan, in September 2024. The pilot ejected safely, and no loss of life or property damage was reported.

On May 7, 2025, India launched a retaliatory military strike, Operation Sindoor, in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. The Indian Army confirmed that the operation targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). While unverified reports have circulated alleging that Pakistani forces shot down Indian jets in a counter-strike, no official confirmation has been issued by either side as of now.

The viral posts hail the Pakistan air Force. These statements are misleading. The images predate the recent military actions and are unrelated to Rafale jets or Operation Sindoor.

This case demonstrates how old, unrelated images can be misused to create false narratives, particularly during times of heightened tensions. The recirculation of these photos with inaccurate captions can mislead the public and amplify misunderstandings. 

The viral images of plane wreckage are not evidence of Indian Rafale jets being shot down by Pakistan. They are old photos from unrelated IAF accidents in 2021 and 2024, repurposed to support a baseless claim.

BI Bureau