The Indian government has strongly refuted claims made by Pakistan-based social media accounts alleging that an Indian fighter jet was shot down and its pilot captured in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). According to officials, the image being circulated is from a 2014 crash of a Sukhoi Su-30MKI in Maharashtra, not a recent incident.
“Pakistani social media handles are claiming that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI was shot down in Muzaffarabad, capturing an Indian Pilot alive. This Sukhoi SU-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Undre Vasti of Kulwadi village near Pune-Ahamad Nagar highway, Maharashtra on October 14, 2014. Do not share this post,” warned the Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking unit.
The misleading post even attributed the report to NDTV—something the media outlet has never published. To counter this misinformation, the government shared an old news report from 2014 that clearly identifies the image as being from the Maharashtra crash.
As tensions remain high following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan’s digital misinformation campaign has intensified. Between May 8 and 9, the PIB debunked at least eight misleading posts, including false reports of drone strikes, suicide bombings, and outdated videos misrepresented as recent events involving Indian military operations.
India has responded to recent terror attacks with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps deep inside Pakistan and POK. Meanwhile, Pakistan has continued cross-border shelling and misinformation efforts as it tries to regain control over the escalating situation.
