Pakistan's claim of capturing India's first female Rafale pilot Lt Shivangi Singh is false

India's first female Rafale pilot, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, falsely claimed captured by Pakistan (Image credit: AFP)

As tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalate, India is not only facing attacks with drones, missiles, and artillery fire from Pakistan but also battling the spread of misinformation on social media.

On Saturday, a false claim circulated online stating that Pakistani forces had captured Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh. A viral video and image falsely suggested that Singh had been captured near Sialkot after her jet was shot down amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.

However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) swiftly debunked the claim, clarifying its falsehood.

Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been capturedPro-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

Let's take a closer look at who's Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh? 

Shivangi Singh made history by becoming India's first and only woman pilot to fly the Rafale fighter jet. She serves in the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab.

Born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, her dream of flying was ignited during a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in Delhi. She later pursued her education at Banaras Hindu University, where she joined the NCC Air Wing, laying the foundation for her career in aviation.

In 2016, she began her training at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad and was commissioned in 2017 as part of the IAF’s second batch of women fighter pilots. Today, she stands among over 1,600 women officers serving in the IAF.

“This not only reflects modernization but also shows we can now realise our dreams,” she once said.

From Rafale to space: Shivangi's big dreams ahead

Singh’s journey as a trailblazer in the Indian Air Force began when she first flew the MiG-21, realizing the immense skill required to pilot such a powerful machine. In 2020, after a competitive selection process, she was chosen for advanced Rafale training, which included sessions with French instructors. Her training focused on mastering the Rafale’s sophisticated systems, such as the Thales RBE2 AESA radar and precision weaponry.

Singh has flown high-stakes missions in areas like eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), showcasing her skills and the Rafale’s capabilities. She also represented India in Exercise Orion in France, marking the first foreign deployment of the Rafale by the IAF in 2023.

Commissioned in 2017, Singh initially flew the MiG-21 Bison, preparing her for more advanced aircraft. In 2022, she became the second woman fighter pilot to participate in the IAF’s Republic Day tableau. Her remarkable achievements highlight the evolving role of women in the Indian Air Force.

Her aspirations go beyond flying the Rafale, as she dreams of reaching space.

“I succeeded in a field that was long reserved for men, and if I succeeded, then women can now work in any sector,” she shared. “I want to be an astronaut,” she told AFP. “So let’s hope.”