Meet Shivangi Singh, India's first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet, she was falsely claimed to...
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, social media platforms have seen a surge in misinformation and fabricated reports, contributing to public anxiety and uncertainty. One widely circulated falsehood on Saturday allegedly claimed that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh of the Indian Air Force had been captured by Pakistani forces.
The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has refuted that an Indian Female Air Force pilot has 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,' PIB fact check stated.
The false claim quickly went viral across several social media platforms, alleging that Singh was detained near Sialkot following the downing of her fighter jet. To support the hoax, several internet users shared an unrelated video, misleadingly portraying it as footage of her alleged capture. Later, the government's fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check, debunked this claim.
But who is Shivangi Singh?
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet.
Shivangi Singh's journey began with a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. 'That's where my adventure started,' she recalled. Standing amid the aircraft displays, she was awestruck by the fighter jets — a moment that sparked a silent but firm resolve: she would one day become a pilot.
Shivangi Singh began chasing her childhood dream during her college years at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). She joined the NCC Air Wing, where her love for flying only grew stronger. With dedication, good grades, and a clear goal in mind, she earned a spot at the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad — where she trained hard to become a fighter pilot.
As reported by The First Post, Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017, becoming part of the second group of women ever inducted as fighter pilots. This marked a major breakthrough, especially since the IAF had taken over two decades to begin allowing women in combat flying positions.
In 2023, the Indian Air Force reported over 1,600 women officers, including numerous fighter pilots. Singh admitted feeling nervous the first time she stepped into the cockpit.
The first time Singh flew a MiG-21 fighter jet, she truly grasped the level of precision and skill required to handle such a powerful machine.
In 2020, following a rigorous selection process, she was chosen for advanced training on the Rafale — a prestigious programme that included simulator drills and sessions with French trainers.
Shivangi Singh has the distinction of having been chosen as the first female fighter pilot on the Rafale aircraft. Rafale came into the defence forces in 2020 from France and is considered to be the most potent fighter aircraft in the entire Asian region in its class.
As per news agency 2023 report, Singh represented the Indian Air Force in the French exercise Orion in France where Air forces of many other major Air Forces including the US, UK, and France along with various other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. Singh, who hails from Varanasi, was flying MiG-21 Bison before being inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF. She joined the force in 2017.
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