Summary
An image broadcast by Indian news channel Zee Rajasthan on May 8, purportedly showing a Pakistani pilot captured during recent Pakistan-India hostilities, is in fact unrelated to the current situation. A detailed verification reveals that the photograph was taken in December 2016 following a Turkish F-16 fighter jet crash in southeastern Turkey. The image was originally published by Getty Images and has no connection to Pakistan, India, or any recent military conflict.
The Claim
During live coverage of the ongoing Pakistan-India tensions, Zee Rajasthan News aired a photograph claiming it depicted a Pakistani pilot apprehended by Indian forces. The segment remains accessible on the channel’s official YouTube page at the two-minute mark. Similar claims were widely circulated across social media platforms, falsely linking the image to current events.
The Truth
A reverse image search and keyword analysis confirm that the image is not from Pakistan or India. It originates from Turkey and was taken on December 12, 2016, when a Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed near Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. The pilot safely ejected, and the image shows Turkish military personnel at the crash site.
The original Getty Images caption reads:
“Turkish soldiers arrive at the site where a Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed near Diyarbakir on December 12, 2016. The Turkish military stated that the aircraft went down near an airbase in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, and the pilot managed to eject safely.”
Conclusion
The claim that the image shows a Pakistani pilot captured by Indian forces is entirely false. The photograph is nearly a decade old and depicts a Turkish military incident with no relevance to current South Asian geopolitics. Misinformation of this nature underscores the need for rigorous verification, especially during times of heightened regional tensions.
