Amid widespread speculation on social media about an alleged crash of an Indian Air Force jet in the Padder area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, the force has termed the reports as false.
Several social media handles had shared videos showing plumes of smoke rising from the mountains, claiming they were from a crashed IAF aircraft.
In a statement issued here, the IAF spokesperson said, “There are certain media outlets and SM handles claiming an IAF aircraft has crashed near Kishtwar. This report is false. All media outlets are requested to verify information from official sources before publishing or transmitting.”
In January, an Indian Air Force microlight aircraft made a precautionary forced landing in a pond during a routine sortie from Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj after developing a technical snag, with both pilots reported safe.
The IAF said the aircraft experienced a malfunction shortly after take-off at around 1215 hrs on January 21, 2026, and was brought down in an uninhabited area, ensuring no damage to civilian life or property.
Last year, the IAF suffered a number of losses pertaining to both the machine and the pilots following a number of crashes during the training routine and aerial display. On November 21, an indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow 2025. The pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, lost his life in the accident.
Earlier, on November 14, a Pilatus PC-7 Mk2 basic trainer aircraft crashed near Tambaram in Chennai while undertaking a routine training sortie. The pilot managed to eject safely and escaped without serious injuries.
The aircraft was part of the IAF’s basic flight training fleet. On July 9, a Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed in the Churu district of Rajasthan during a training mission. Both pilots on board sustained fatal injuries, making it one of the deadliest accidents of the year for the IAF.
Another accident involving a Dassault Rafale fighter jet was reported on May 7. Earlier, on April 3, a Jaguar fighter aircraft crashed near Jamnagar in Gujarat during a routine training mission. One pilot ejected safely, while the other was killed.