Fact Check: Shenyang J-35 jet crash covered up by China? Here are the facts

Hyderabad: A video of an aircraft in flight at an air base is going viral on social media with the claim that it shows a Chinese Shenyang J-35 fighter jet, which later crashed at Anshan Airbase due to engine failure.

In the video, we can see an aircraft flying close to the ground and making a sharp vertical turn. The runway seems to be situated in a location surrounded by hills. The claim accompanying the viral video also says that it is an archive video of the Chinese-made J-35 5th generation.

Sharing the video on X, a user wrote, “BREAKING: Chinese Shenyang J-35 5th Generation fighter aircraft crashed near Anshan Airbase on 6th of July 2025 during training sortie due to engine failure. “The news was well hidden by Chinese state-controlled media and PLA AF. (Archive Video). (sic)” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video does not show the Chinese-made Shenyang J-35 fighter jet.

Where was the viral video shot?

Using reverse image search of the video’s keyframes, we found another video of an aircraft uploaded to Instagram on March 13. The video was shared with the caption, “The ground trembles as the Viper streaks past, a thunderclap of speed and fury. No warning, no mercy—just raw power cutting through the sky.”

We slowed down the video and analysed the background. We found similarities between the viral video and the Instagram video. A comparison of the videos can be found here.

In the video, we can see the national flag of the United States of America with four military transport aircraft stationed near it. Three of the four aircraft have ‘DM’ written on them, while one has ‘OT’.

Using reverse image search of this keyframe, we found an image uploaded to Flickr, an image hosting website. This image is similar to the keyframe from the Instagram video showing military transportation aircraft stationed in front of hills. These aircraft also have ‘DM’ written on them.

The description on Flickr read ‘Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson AZ, C-130 X 2’. The images were taken on February 29, 2020.

Using the hint, we found that the DM written on the tail of the aircraft is also an identity code of Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

To further confirm the location of the viral video, we used keyword searches and found a video shot at the Davis Monthan AFB, uploaded to YouTube. The video was uploaded on April 30, with the title, ‘F-16 Viper Demonstration Team at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona’.

At the 00:47-minute mark in the video, we can see a factory structure that matches the silhouette from the viral video. Comparison of background structures between the YouTube video and the viral video can be found below.

Therefore, it is clear that the viral video was shot at the Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona, USA. However, we were unable to independently verify the date when the video was shot.

Does the viral video show a Shenyang J-35?

The viral post shared a video with claims that it shows an archived video of the Shenyang J-35.

The Shenyang J-35 is a series of Chinese twin-engine, stealth multirole combat aircraft manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). It is the second fifth-generation fighter China has developed after the J-20.

The J-35 is a carrier-based variant generally associated with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), while the J-35A is tailored for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a land-based variant.

However, the video in the viral post is not from China. It was shot at the Davis Monthan AFB in the USA. There are no reports stating that the Shenyang J-35 has ever flown over the Davis Monthan AFB.

Additionally, no credible news outlets, defence journals or independent analysts have reported a J-35 crash on July 6.

Some comments under the viral post stated that the aircraft in the video looks closer to Lockheed Martin F-35, also known as F-35 Lightning II, while others said it’s closer to F-22 Raptor, both American aircraft.

The outer design of the F-35 and J-35 is similar in their stealthy, angular airframes and blended wing bodies, although there are differences like the F-35’s single-engine layout versus the J-35’s twin engines, and variations in tail and wing configurations.

The outer design of the F-22 and J-35 is similar, although the F-22 has a twin-engine layout with distinct air intakes, and the J-35 has twin engines underbelly intake. There are also some variations in wing sweep and stabiliser angles.

“J-35’s design is similar to the US Lockheed Martin F-35; the only difference is that the former is twin-engine and the latter has one engine,” stated NDTV in a report published on November 12, 2024.

Due to the viral video’s low resolution, details like engine count or tail design are not clear. We are unable to verify the exact aircraft type seen in the viral video. However, it is clear that the viral video does not show a Shenyang J-35.

We were unable to independently verify whether a Shenyang J-35 aircraft met with a crash due to engine failure on July 6, as there are no news reports on this incident. Additionally, there is no credible evidence of a J-35 crash occurring on July 6, as claimed.

Therefore, NewsMeter concludes that the viral video does not show the Shenyang J-35.