Misrepresented Italian Air Force Clip as Indian Fighter Jets Exhibition

Following a fatal crash of an Indian fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow in November, a video began circulating on social media falsely presenting Indian Air Force aircraft performing a "spectacular demonstration" at the event. The clip actually depicts the Italian Air Force aerobatic team at the Jesolo Air Show months earlier.

The Instagram video, shared on November 23, 2025, featured text stating, "Indian Air Force Rules Dubai Sky. A powerful display of precision, skill, and dominance," alongside a Hindi caption. The footage shows jets flying in tight formation above a crowded beach and releasing colored smoke that mimics the Indian national flag.

The video appeared shortly after an Indian Tejas fighter crashed in front of spectators on the final day of the Dubai Airshow, resulting in the pilot's death. Dubai authorities confirmed the accident, and the Indian Air Force launched an investigation.

Reverse image searches revealed that the clip had been posted on YouTube on June 29, 2025, clearly identified as the Jesolo Air Show in Italy. Similar footage, showing jets emitting green, white, and red smoke, was also shared by Jesolo Tourism's official Instagram page around the same time.

Andrea Rossi Tonon, head of Jesolo's press office, confirmed that the online video shows the National Aerobatic Team of Italy, known as the "Frecce Tricolori," performing with tricolor smoke representing the Italian flag. The pattern of colors bears a superficial resemblance to the Indian flag.

Additional verified videos from the Italian Air Force and AFP show the same Jesolo performance with the national colors of Italy. The Indian Air Force does not appear among participants on the Jesolo Air Show's official website.

AFP has previously addressed similar false claims misattributing Italian Air Force displays to Indian jets.

Author: Grace Ellison