A wave of disinformation has been making rounds on social media, falsely claiming that India has officially admitted the death of four Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, including those flying three Rafale fighter jets. The source of the claim appears to be Pakistani propaganda handles, including The Daily CPEC and users like Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi (@Mansuror).
🚨”India Admits Rafale Pilot Loss?” – Here’s the truth behind this claim:
Several Pakistani propaganda handles are spreading false claims that India has officially confirmed the loss of 4 IAF pilots, including those flying 3 Rafale jets.#PIBFactCheck
❌ FAKE ALERT!
✅ The… pic.twitter.com/4v8FSMOJAX
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 7, 2025
However, the Government of India has issued NO such statement, and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified the viral news as entirely fake.
“FAKE ALERT”
“The Government of India has issued NO such statement. There is no truth to these rumours,” said PIB Fact Check, India’s official fact-checking unit.
The viral claim falsely reported that India “admitted the death of 4 fighter pilots, including 3 Rafale pilots,” accompanied by manipulated graphics and screenshots mimicking legitimate news formats. These fabricated reports were amplified by social media accounts known for pushing anti-India narratives, particularly in the context of India-Pakistan defence matters.
What’s the Truth?
There has been no crash or loss of Rafale jets or their pilots as per any official Indian defence communication. The Indian Air Force has not reported any such incident, and no mainstream or official news agency has corroborated the claim.
Why It Matters
This misinformation comes amid heightened attention on defence capabilities and regional security dynamics. The intent seems to be to tarnish the image of the Indian Air Force and sow confusion among the public by leveraging the credibility of platforms like PIB for false attribution.
PIB’s Advice to Citizens:
Don’t fall for misinformation.
Always cross-verify any sensitive or alarming news with official sources.
Report suspicious or unverified posts.
This is another reminder of the growing need to tackle digital disinformation, especially in matters concerning national security.
