Fact-Check: Video Game Simulation Falsely Shared as PAF Chopper Attacked in Bhuj
This video does not show real footage but is a video game simulation.
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A video showing helicopters being attacked is going viral on social media where users are claiming that it shows Indian Air Force (IAF) attacking Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter helicopters in Bhuj, Gujarat.
The claim also links it to Operation Sindoor and comes after the press briefing given by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh who revealed that on the intervening night of 7-8 May, Pakistan had attempted to engage several military targets including Bhuj using drones and missiles.
How did we find out the truth?: We performed a relevant keyword search on Google but we did not come across any credible reports about this video.
We then checked for videos related to video game, ARMA 3, and found several videos from the simulation which showed helicopters being attacked.
Although the video does not exactly match with the viral one, it does show similar patterns of attacks and explosions. You can view them here, here, here and here.
Additionally, Bhuj is a landlocked place while the video clearly shows a water body in the backdrop where the choppers are flying.
Screenshot of Bhuj.
(Photo: Google Maps/Screenshot)
Conclusion: A video game simulation showing two helicopters being attacked is being shared to falsely claim that it shows IAF shooting down Pakistan's fighter helicopters.
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