Fact Check: This mid-air photoshoot of fighter aircraft is not from India’s Republic day celebrations
India Today
Many users claim this video was shot during the airshow conducted by the IAF on Republic Day.
It's only been a few days since India marked her 73rd Republic Day. The grand finale of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi witnessed the biggest fly-past with 75 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) participating.
The video of a man engaged in a mid-air photoshoot of fighter jets from the half-opened loading ramp of a plane is now viral on social media. Many users claim this video was shot during the airshow conducted by the IAF on Republic Day.
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the claim along with the video is misleading. This is an old video from Saudi Arabia and has no connection to India.
Closely observing the viral clip, we could spot the national emblem of Saudi Arabia on some aircraft flying in the formation. This gave us the first clue that the video could be from Saudi Arabia and not India.
A reverse search of viral video's keyframes led us to multiple media reports and blogs from 2020. While some had the video embedded, others carried screenshots of the same.
According to these reports, the video is of a photoshoot organised by the Royal Saudi Air Force during air show rehearsals ahead of the 90th National Day of Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Hade, a well-known Saudi aviation photographer is the man seen capturing the fighter planes in a daredevil act, the reports state.
