A PIB fact check earlier debunked a viral claim doing the rounds on social media that an Indian Air Force pilot, Shivangi Singh, has been captured by Pakistani forces as her fighter jet was shot down. Singh is India’s first female Rafale fighter pilot. Here’s what we know about herread moreAs tensions between
India and Pakistan
escalate, social media has been flooded with fake news and viral misinformation, fuelling confusion and fear among citizens.One such false claim that gained traction on Saturday alleged that Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, had been captured by Pakistani forces.The rumour, which spread rapidly across multiple platforms, falsely stated that Singh was arrested near Sialkot after her fighter jet was shot down. Some users even circulated an unrelated video in an attempt to show her supposed capture.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHowever, the government’s fact-checking arm,
PIB Fact Check
, swiftly debunked the viral claim.More from Explainers
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Operation Sindoor: Inside Indian Army and Air Force’s two-pronged attack on Pakistan terror hubsThe agency also urged citizens to be vigilant, avoid forwarding such unverified content and rely only on official updates.But who is IAF pilot Shivangi Singh? Why was her name caught in the fake news mess? Here’s a closer look.Becoming India’s first female Rafale fighter pilotSquadron Leader Shivangi Singh holds the historic distinction of being India’s first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. She is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab.Her dream of flying began in childhood. A visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi with her parents left a lasting impression. She once recalled how she “gawked” at the aircraft and “immediately knew that [she] wanted to become a pilot.”Editor’s Picks1Fact-check: No, Pakistan didn’t capture woman IAF pilot or destroy S-400 defence system2India’s Rafale vs Pakistan’s F-16: With air prowess in spotlight, how the fighter jets compareHailing from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Singh took her first steps towards that dream by joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Air Wing during her graduation at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).With a strong academic record and unwavering passion, she then made it to the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, where she underwent rigorous training to become a fighter pilot.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADSquadron Leader Shivangi Singh is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab. AFPSingh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2017, as part of the IAF’s second-ever batch of women fighter pilots — a milestone in itself, given that it took the force over two decades to induct women into combat flying roles.By 2023, official figures showed that over 1,600 women officers were serving in the Indian Air Force, including many pilots.“There have been many of us,” Singh told AFP. “This not only reflects modernisation (of our society) but also the fact that we can now realise our dreams.”Flying Rafale and guarding the bordersThe first time Singh took the controls of a fighter jet, a MiG-21, was when she “realised how much skill it takes to control” to fly.In 2020, after clearing a competitive evaluation, she was chosen for
Rafale
training, an advanced programme that involved simulator sessions with French instructors.“I learned something new every step of the way, be it flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft or the Rafale fighter aircraft,” she told India Today.Her training focused on mastering the Rafale’s high-tech systems, including its Thales RBE2 AESA radar and precision weaponry. This prepared her for complex missions, including those under Operation Sindoor.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADShivangi Singh has represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF. File image/ ReutersSingh has since flown missions in sensitive regions like eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where her skills and the Rafale’s capabilities were put to the test amid tensions with China.She even represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF.Aiming for spaceSingh was among the first to try the new Rafale jets. But her dreams are even bigger.“I succeeded in a field that was long reserved for men, and if I succeeded, then women can now work in any sector,” she said. “I want to be an astronaut,” she told AFP. “So let’s hope.”With input from agenciesTagsIndiaIndia-Pakistan TensionEnd of Article
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Who is IAF’s Shivangi Singh, who was falsely claimed to have been captured by Pakistan?
