WEBDESK: A misleading video circulating on social media, which falsely claims to show an Indian pilot ejecting from a fighter jet, has been exposed as fake by Azaad Fact Check, a watchdog focused on tackling disinformation.
According to the organisation’s latest report, the footage, which was shared by an India-based X (formerly Twitter) account, does not show any evidence of a parachute deploying, a critical detail in any actual ejection scenario.
Azaad Fact Check has debunked fake news spread by an India-based X account. The video, shared by another account claiming it depicts an Indian pilot, actually shows no parachute deployment. The slow descent of the object, without a parachute, suggests it is likely a plastic… https://t.co/RmPtsnvlrJ pic.twitter.com/fyTazq93Gz
— Azaad Fact Check (@azaadfactcheck) July 3, 2025
Despite the online claim suggesting it was a real pilot descending from the sky, experts say the object seen slowly drifting down appears to be nothing more than a plastic shopping bag.
The fact-check team pointed out that there are no visible signs in the video to support the claim that it involves a pilot or even an ejection sequence.
This incident is being seen as yet another example of how misinformation can spread unverified on social media.
It also further endorses the idea that one must always verify news before spreading it.
The untrue allegation is at a time when the Indian government also faces more scrutiny in relation to how it conducts its defence affairs.
Just a day earlier, a senior female leader of India’s Congress party raised serious questions about the Modi administration’s record during a live talk show on a private Indian news channel.
She accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of failing on the defence front and attempting to cover up the truth.
During the programme, the host asked why Congress continues to criticise the government on various issues.
In response, the Congress leader referred to Indian warplanes allegedly shot down by Pakistan, something even acknowledged by the former Indian Air Force chief, and questioned the whereabouts of the missing pilots.
Many view posts of such nature that spread unconfirmed reports of Indian pilots as a smokescreen by the Modi government in the hopes of getting their attention off the growing criticism by the population and opposition.
This latest recording by Azaad Fact Check demonstrates the necessity of independent verification at the time of digital disinformation yet again.
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