Viral Photo of Indian Jet Crash Predates the Ongoing India-Pakistan Clashes

After reports that Pakistani forces shot down Indian fighter jets, social media users circulated a widely shared photo claiming to show the wreckage of an Indian Rafale jet allegedly downed by PL-15 missile strikes.

An X user posted the photo with the caption, “Pakistani PL-15 missile strikes down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur completely destroyed, burnt to ashes. Single-seater. Pilot confirmed dead. Let this be a lesson don’t challenge Pakistan’s skies.”