Fact Check: Claims of IAF Plane Crash in J&K's Kishtwar Are False

The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check Unit (PIB FCU), a specialised wing under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that identifies and counters misinformation related to Government of India departments and public sector undertakings, on Friday addressed a set of social media posts circulating online.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) dismissed reports claiming that one of its aircraft had crashed near Kishtwar in Jammu & Kashmir, calling them "false."

The IAF also urged media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation and to verify information through official sources before publishing.

"There are certain media outlets and social media handles claiming that an IAF aircraft has crashed near Kishtwar. This report is false. All media outlets are requested to verify information from official sources before publishing or transmitting it," an IAF spokesperson said.

A video circulating on social media shows the serene landscape of Kishtwar with smoke rising from behind a mountain, which led to speculation about a possible crash.

Some posts claimed that locals in the mountainous region witnessed heavy smoke and heard a loud blast. One account even alleged that a "missile trail" was visible near the supposed crash site.

Additional posts attempted to reinforce the narrative by linking it to another alleged incident, claiming this was the second major Indian Air Force mishap in April 2026, referring to an earlier reported Su-30 MKI crash at Pune Airport the previous week.

Images and video clips showing smoke rising from hilly terrain were also widely shared as purported evidence of the incident.

However, the PIB Fact Check Unit clarified that these claims are fake. It stated that the video and related posts do not correspond to any verified incident involving the Indian Air Force.

The unit urged the public not to circulate unverified content and to rely only on official sources for accurate information.