PIB Fact Check: No, 3 Indian Air Force Jets Have Not Crashed in the Himalayas

May 10, 2025| May 10, 2025 Fake News Busted 4 min read

Introduction

In the age of digital warfare, misinformation can be as dangerous as physical threats. Recently, several pro-Pakistan social media accounts circulated a claim alleging that three Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets crashed in different areas of the Himalayas. These posts have now been thoroughly debunked by the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit (PIB Fact Check).

The Viral Claim

The false narrative being circulated includes images of a crashed jet, with captions such as:

“Three Indian fighter jets have crashed near the Himalayas. Tensions escalate.”

The posts often tag news agencies and include misleading visuals to add credibility and stoke panic.

🚨Did 3 IAF Jets Crash in Himalayas? 🚨

Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region.#PIBFactcheck

– This claim is #FAKE

– The image being circulated is old, dating back to… pic.twitter.com/WZ9cBLWXWI
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025

PIB Fact Check Responds

@PIBFactCheck issued an official clarification:

🚨 Did 3 IAF Jets Crash in Himalayas?

Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region.

#PIBFactCheck

❌ This claim is #FAKE

🔍 The image being circulated is old, dating back to 2016.
🔗 India Today Archive Article

The Reality Behind the Image

The image used in the viral claim is from June 2016, showing a MiG-27 crash in Rajasthan, not the Himalayas.
In that incident, the pilot ejected safely and there was no link to Pakistan or any conflict zone.
This old image has been recycled out of context to create a false narrative.

Strategic Misinformation: A Digital Threat

This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a wider disinformation campaign aimed at:

🔴 Spreading Panic

By suggesting large-scale military losses, such posts aim to shake public confidence.

🔴 Fueling Hostility

Falsely linking IAF accidents to enemy action can escalate diplomatic tensions.

🔴 Undermining Trust in Armed Forces

Repetition of fake narratives may distort public perception of India’s defence readiness.

India’s Official Stance and Media Ethics

The Indian Air Force and Ministry of Defence have issued no statement regarding any such crashes in recent days. Mainstream media outlets have also not reported any such incident.

This should act as a clear red flag for readers to verify news before believing or sharing.

Be Responsible: Verify Before You Share

✅ Trusted Sources to Follow:

PIB Fact Check
https://pib.gov.in
Official Defence Ministry Channels

📢 Report Fake News:

WhatsApp: +91-8799711259
Email: factcheck@pib.gov.in

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Conclusion

The claim that three IAF fighter jets have crashed in the Himalayas is completely false. The image accompanying the posts is from 2016, and the incident was unrelated to current events. Misinformation can destabilize national morale, so always rely on verified, official sources and help others do the same.