Fact Check: Indian pilot Shivangi Singh caught by Pakistan? No, the video is old and unrelated
A video showing an individual entangled in power lines is circulating online, falsely claiming to depict Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, hanging from the wires after ejecting from a Rafale, allegedly shot down by Pakistan.
By Md Mahfooz Alam
Claim:The video shows Indian pilot Shivangi Singh hanging on a wire after ejection from a Rafale jet, shot down by Pakistan.
Fact:False. The video does not show Shivangi Singh caught in power lines. It is from an unrelated paragliding incident that occurred in Himachal Pradesh in March 2025.
Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, social media has seen a rise in false claims related to Indian Air Force (IAF) operations and Rafale fighter jets. Similarly, it is being claimed that Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, the first Indian woman to fly the French-made single-seat Rafale jet, has been captured by Pakistan. Several such claims have already been debunked by NewsMeter. (Read the reports here, here, and here.)
In this context, a video has gone viral on social media, claiming to show Indian pilot Shivangi Singh caught in power lines after ejecting from a Rafale jet, allegedly shot down by Pakistan.
One X user shared the video with the caption, ā#IndiaPakistanWar #PakistanZindabad. Shivangi Singh, the girl, got stuck in the trees while flying the Rafale.ā (Archive)
Another user wrote, āIndian Pilot Caught In Azaad Kashmir, Pakistan Kashmir, Sqn Ldr Shivangi Singh. #IndiaPakistanWar #IndianArmy #PakistanZindabad #IndiaPakistanWar.ā (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false; the video is old and unrelated.
A reverse image search of keyframes led us to posts by Himachal Pradesh-based news outlets, Samachar First and Himachal Dastak, from March 16 and 17, 2025. Their reports stated that a paraglider had become entangled in power lines during a storm at Kulluās Dobhi paragliding site. They also confirmed the paraglider was safely rescued.
We also found a YouTube video posted by Jain News Himachal on March 16, describing the incident similarly.
According to a March 17 report by Amar Ujala, four paraglider pilots had lost their way after taking off due to strong winds and deteriorating weather. While three landed safely, one got caught in wires in the forest near Tarashi and was later rescued.
On May 10, the PIB Fact Check X handle also clarified that the viral claims alleging Shivangi Singhās capture in Pakistan were false and that no such incident had taken place.
It is hence clear that the viral video doesn't show Indian pilot Shivangi Singh caught in power lines. The video is from an unrelated paragliding incident in Himachal Pradesh in March 2025.
