On May 8, 2025, reports emerged of Pakistani pilots being captured by the Indian Army amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. A Pakistan Air Force pilot flying what many believe to be a JF-17 or F-16 fighter jet was captured alive in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan after ejecting from a plane that was allegedly
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attempting to violate Indian airspace. Another pilot was reportedly captured in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu. These incidents came after India’s missile strikes on alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to further escalation across the border.
Key details include:
Captured in Jaisalmer: The Border Security Force (BSF) detained a pilot after he shot down a Pakistani JF-17 near the Rajasthan border. Intelligence sources have confirmed the capture, but reports are based on confirmation from the Indian government
Captured at Akhnoor: A Pakistani F-16 or JF-17 pilot was reportedly captured by the Indian Army at Akhnoor in Jammu after the jet was reportedly shot down by India’s S-400 defence system.
Context: The capture took place amid intense military engagements, including India intercepting Pakistani missiles and drones fired at targets in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. India reportedly shot down several Pakistani fighter jets, including three to five F-16s and JF-17s, in retaliation.
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Social media sentiment: Posts on X reflect strong nationalistic sentiments in India, with users referencing past events such as the capture of Indian pilot Abhinandan in 2019 and mocking Pakistan with expressions such as “chai time” and “kadak indian chai”. Some posts indicate a desire for
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However, some reports urge caution due to misinformation. A fact-check by DW found that some photos and videos online, allegedly
showing downed jets or captured aircraft, are from UN or date back to early September 2024. There is also a viral photo of the captured pilot, but its authenticity has been questioned.
There has been no official confirmation from the resort confirming the identities of the pilots or their status. If the capture is confirmed, it
will mark a significant addition to the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, which is set to make India’s allied camps even more tense after “Operation Sindoor”.
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