Old, Unrelated Image a Crashed Fighter Jet Falsely Linked to Operation Sindoor
This image dates back to 2021 and shows an IAF MiG-21 fighter aircraft that crashed near Moga, Punjab.
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An image showing a completely devastated fighter jet is going viral on social media where users are claiming that it shows a Rafale jet which was attacked by Pakistan in Bahawalpur.
This claim has been going viral online following Operation Sindoor and it also states that the pilot was killed in this attack.
How did we find out the truth?: We performed a reverse image search on the viral image using Google lens and this led us to several old reports from 2021.
Reports shared by Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Business Standard and Telegraph India on 21 May 2021 shared the same viral image.
It states that an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Moga, Punjab on 20 May 2021.
The crash resulted in death of the pilot and the aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident happened in Langeana village of Moga.
This image is from May 2021.
(Source: HT/Screenshot)
Conclusion: An old and unrelated image of a crashed fighter jet is being falsely linked to Operation Sindoor.
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