Recently, there have been claims on social media alleging that Iran successfully shot down a US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet. This assertion gained traction amidst Iran’s heightened military activities targeting US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The video circulating alongside these claims features a fighter jet engulfed in flames beside a taxiway at an airport, with firefighters attempting to mitigate the fire. Baton-like captions have accompanied the video, indicating that Iran’s upgraded air defence systems allegedly led to the downing of the F-22, portraying Iran as a burgeoning superpower that has vanquished the United States.

Despite these allegations, India’s reputed media outlet, India Today, conducted an investigation and concluded that no credible reports support the claim of an F-22 being downed. This lack of evidence extends to Iranian media sources as well.

Fact-Checking the Video

India Today embarked on a comprehensive probe, performing keyword searches in both English and Farsi. These searches were conducted to ascertain whether any such incident involving the downing of a US fighter jet had occurred recently. The searches revealed no corresponding reports, not even from state-run news outlets such as IRIB and IRNA.

Moreover, a reverse search of frames from the viral video led to its identification on the YouTube channel of The Independent, a media organisation based in the UK. The channel featured the video on July 10, illustrating an incident that occurred in Greece.

As per the available information, the footage showed an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Greek Air Force, which had crashed at Zakynthos International Airport on July 9. Reports indicate that the jet experienced a technical malfunction, leading to indications of an onboard fire, ultimately forcing it to land without deployed landing gear.

Details Surrounding the Incident in Greece

The incident culminated in a crash landing that ignited flames on the runway, prompting an immediate emergency response from firefighters and airport personnel. Eyewitness accounts and reports from credible sources, including the BBC and the Times of India, have stated that the fighter jet skidded for several metres along the runway before erupting into flames.

Responding swiftly, firefighters covered the aircraft in foam, successfully controlling the blaze. Fortunately, the pilot managed a safe exit from the aircraft, with no major injuries reported. Furthermore, there were no indications of injuries among airport staff or civilians in the vicinity. However, operations at Zakynthos International Airport were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.

In conclusion, the narrative claiming that Iran shot down a US Air Force F-22 Raptor is unfounded. The actual footage pertains to an incident involving a Greek Air Force F-16 in Greece, demonstrating the necessity for verified information in the context of rising geopolitical tensions.

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