Fact Check: PIB Debunks False Claims of Captured IAF Pilot, Delhi Airport Attack, and S-400 Hit
During the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, a surge of misinformation on social media platforms had compelled India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) to issue clarifications debunking several widely shared false claims.
Was an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot captured by Pakistan?
No. Viral claims suggesting that Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, a female officer in the Indian Air Force, had been captured in Pakistan are entirely false. The PIB Fact Check unit swiftly dismissed this claim as fabricated propaganda.
Did Pakistan launch missile strikes targeting New Delhi Airport?
No missile attacks occurred on New Delhi Airport. A widely circulated video depicting an explosion and purportedly linked to Pakistan’s missile attack was clarified by PIB to actually depict a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen, from August 2024.
Was India’s S-400 air defence system destroyed by Pakistani forces?
No. Claims stating Pakistani forces had destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system were categorically denied by PIB. The agency confirmed that no such incident had occurred, labelling these claims as deliberate misinformation.
Were there other recent instances of misinformation clarified by PIB?
Yes. Earlier this week, PIB debunked additional false claims, including allegations of a cyberattack on India’s power grid and a supposed drone strike on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Both narratives were proven to be baseless fabrications.
What has PIB advised the public regarding such misinformation?
PIB urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims, emphasising the importance of relying solely on information disseminated by official government sources. The agency highlighted the potential of coordinated misinformation campaigns to provoke fear, mislead citizens, and exacerbate communal and regional tensions.
