Amid rising tensions along the Line of Control and Pakistan continuing unprovoked firing for the fifth consecutive day, a video showing flames and thick smoke has gone viral on social media. The video is being shared with the claim that the Pakistan Army has shot down an Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector (J&K). However, the viral footage is actually from a year-old incident involving the accidental crash of a Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
GHQ 111 Brigade wrote, ‘Pakistan Army has shot down Indian Rafale jets in the Poonch sector of the LOC, Alhamdulillah. Modi should save the two or three ships that are left, why should they be destroyed? Hafiz Sahib, don’t give up. keep it up, well done.’
پاک فوج نے LOC پونچھ سیکٹر میں بھارتی طیارے رافیل کے پرخچے اُڑا دئیے ہیں الحمدﷲ ✈️ 🔥🦾
— GHQ 111 Brigade™️ (@Move111Forward) April 29, 2025
مودی جو دو چار جہاز بچے ہیں وہ بچا لے کیوں تباہ کروانے ہیں 😂
حافظ صاحب نسن نہیں دینا ❌ تن کے رکھو شاباش 🦾 pic.twitter.com/pa51iFd5i8
Khizar Hayat Abbasi claimed, ‘Reports suggest that Pakistan has shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Azad Kashmir.’
Reports suggest that Pakistan has shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Azad Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/P2Fl5cKLs2
— Khizar Hayat Abbasi (@Khizar333) April 29, 2025
Shahzaib Khan Tanoli wrote, ‘Breaking News. Pakistan shoots down Indian Rafale fighter jet in Poonch sector near LoC. Big success for Pakistan Air Force. Thank God.’
بریکنگ نیوز
— M Shahzaib Khan Tanoli (@mskt131977) April 29, 2025
پاکستان نے ایل او سی کے قریب پونچ سیکٹر میں بھارتی رافیل لڑاکا طیارہ گرایا
پاکستان فضائیہ کے لیے بڑی کامیابی🇵🇰🇵🇰
الحمدللہ pic.twitter.com/QMQmXmHc7K
Anum Fatima, Zulfiqar Ali, Meenu Chaudhary and Watanzamung shared a similar claim.
Also Read: Viral Video Claiming Pakistani Attack on Indian Army Post is False
Fact Check
We began our fact-checking process by conducting a reverse image search of the viral video. The search led us to an article published by Top War on June 2, 2024, which reported that the Indian Air Force had lost another Su-30MKI fighter jet. The aircraft crashed near Nashik in Maharashtra during a test flight following a major overhaul by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility.
According to the report, the pilots ejected from the aircraft, with one sustaining injuries upon landing. The injured pilot was likely taken to a nearby medical facility. The aircraft crashed in an open field and was completely destroyed in the resulting fire. No casualties or damage were reported on the ground. Emergency services, local authorities, police, and military personnel responded to the crash site.
Additionally, we found a post by India TV defence and national security journalist Manish Prasad, shared on June 4, 2024. He wrote, “Bad news coming in from Nashik. Air Force fighter aircraft Su-30MKI crashed at Shirasgaon in Niphad taluka. Pilot & Co-pilot ejected safely. Right now, it was with HAL for overhauling. It was on a training sortie. Enquiry ordered.”
Bad News coming in from #Nashik. Airforce #Fighter Aircraft #Su30 MKI crashed at Shirasgaon in Nishad taluka. Pilot & Co Pilot ejected Safely. Right now it is with #HAL for overhauling. It was on training sortie. Enquiry ordered. @IAF_MCC @HALHQBLR #IAF pic.twitter.com/soeCFO0JzS
— Manish Prasad (@manishindiatv) June 4, 2024
| Claim | Pakistan shot down an IAF Rafale jet along the LoC. |
| Claimed by | GHQ 111 Brigade, Khizar Hayat Abbasi, Anum Fatima, and other Pakistan-based X handles. |
| Fact Check | The claim is false. The video in question is from a Su-30MKI crash in Nashik, Maharashtra, in June 2024. |
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