In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has declined to comment on reports of multiple aircraft crashes. This silence follows claims from Pakistan that its forces downed five Indian fighter jets and one combat drone in response to Indian missile strikes. These strikes, according to Pakistani sources, resulted in civilian casualties.
Reuters reported that three Indian fighter jets crashed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Wednesday. These crashes occurred hours after India announced retaliatory airstrikes across the border.
Adding to the confusion, The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, briefly published a report about the crash of three Indian fighter jets, attributing the losses to Pakistani air force action, before removing the article and a related social media post.
The Pakistani military has asserted that it shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30. They also claimed to have downed an Israeli-made Heron combat drone. According to Pakistan, the jets were downed in Bhatinda, Jammu, Akhnoor, Srinagar, and Avantipur. India has not confirmed these claims.
Meanwhile, an Indian official told Reuters that one jet had crashed in Indian-administered Kashmir, and the pilot was hospitalized.
Adding to the uncertainty, an unidentified aircraft crashed near Aklian Kalan village in Bathinda, Punjab, resulting in the death of a civilian and injuries to ten others who approached the wreckage site. Locals initially mistook the crash for a meteor.
Amidst these conflicting reports, social media has been flooded with speculation and unverified images. Some posts claim that a Pakistani JF-17 or F-16 was shot down by Indian forces after attempting to enter Indian airspace. Others assert that the crashed aircraft was Indian, possibly downed by Pakistani retaliation.
Visual evidence has emerged, including images of a vertical stabilizer bearing the markings "Rafale BS001," which corresponds to the first Rafale delivered to India. Footage of a jet engine, appearing consistent with the Rafale's Safran M88 engine, has also surfaced. However, the authenticity and context of these visuals remain unconfirmed.
CNN reported that a senior French intelligence official confirmed that one Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet was shot down by Pakistan. French authorities are reportedly investigating whether additional Rafale aircraft were also brought down.
The recent events are rooted in the Pahalgam attack, the deadliest terrorist incident in Indian territory since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India responded with diplomatic and economic measures, as well as the military operation that preceded the reported crashes.
The situation has led to heightened alert levels in India across land, air, and sea. The unfolding events mark a dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, raising fears of a broader conflict in a region historically plagued by territorial disputes.
