The authenticity of the Indian aircraft crash has been confirmed through video analysis by the BBC.

 

Pakistani pilots have claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets in border tensions over the Kashmir issue. India has not accepted Pakistan's claim. However, they have not denied the claim either. This has created some confusion. However, this time the renowned British media outlet BBC has confirmed the fact that an Indian plane has crashed.

A video has been released from the Bathinda region of Punjab, India. Where the smoke from the wreckage of an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet is seen.

The investigation of which was carried out by the BBC's investigative unit, BBC Verify. They have independently verified the authenticity of three separate videos that are at least the aftermath of a plane crash.

According to BBC Verify, all three clips are believed to have been shot in the same field near Bathinda. One of the videos also shows personnel identified as Indian soldiers collecting metal debris.

Notably, the wreckage includes parts that resemble the frame of an advanced French-made Rafale aircraft recently inducted into the IAF.

Two other nighttime videos from the same location show the burning wreckage of the aircraft. The video shows a projectile splattered across the night sky and caught fire after hitting the ground.

Analysts believe the viral videos are consistent with mid-air dogfights, which support Pakistan's claim of successfully shooting down multiple Indian aircraft.

According to TRT Global, Justin Crump, a former British Army officer and head of security firm Sibylline, has analysed the footage for the BBC.

He said the recovered fragments appear to be a French-made air-to-air missile, compatible with both the Rafale and Mirage 2000 jets, both of which are operated by the IAF.

In addition, a photo widely circulated on social media adds to the visual evidence as it shows a tail fin marked 'BS001' and 'Rafael'. The BBC's verification process also revealed that the images are not related to any recent or previous incidents.