President Murmu poses with IAF pilot Pakistan 'claimed to have captured' during Op Sindoor

Varanasi-born Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh posed with President Droupadi Murmu at Ambala Air Force Base on Wednesday, dismissing Pakistani social media claims that she had been captured during Operation Sindoor.

Singh, the first female Indian pilot to fly the Rafale, gave the President a hands-on tour of the aircraft.

President Droupadi Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station, Ambala, Haryana. She is the first President of India to take sortie in two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, she took a sortie in Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2023. pic.twitter.com/Rvj1ebaCou

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 29, 2025

Indian authorities had confirmed that Pakistan’s claims of downing six Indian jets, including Singh’s, were false, while Pakistan actually lost several of its own aircraft.

The videos circulated on social media of Singh’s “grief-stricken family” were unrelated, showing instead the family of Sergeant Surendra Kumar.

Pakistan social media had claimed that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh was captured and her Rafale fighter jet shot down during Operation Sindoor.

Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨

Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck

❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… pic.twitter.com/V8zovpSRYk

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025

The photo of Singh in flight overalls, standing tall alongside the President with the Rafale in the background, clearly nagates Pakistan’s claims.

Operation Sindoor, launched in May in response to the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, saw Pakistan exaggerate its military success.