SOURCE: AFI
A tweet from X handle Ammar Solangi, who goes by @fake_burster and identifies as a “Freelance Journalist” and “Social Media Activist,” has ignited a firestorm of speculation and rebuttals online. Solangi posted a sensational claim: “SU-57 of Indian Air Force, enroute to Moscow, made an unauthorized appearance in Iranian air space, that led to force landed by Iran’s Air defence / Air Force. He also claimed that Indian defence minister had to apologies to IRGC. The aircraft was allowed to fly after formal apology from Indian defense, ministry, and the crew.” The post, lacking any verifiable evidence, quickly drew attention—and skepticism—from Indian social media users.
The Sukhoi Su-57, Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, had recently made headlines at Aero India 2025, held from February 10-14 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. Following the airshow, reports confirmed that a Russian Su-57—identified as “Blue 054″—departed India for Russia, with a refueling stop at Iran’s 9th Tactical Fighter Base in Bandar Abbas on February 19. Satellite imagery and videos circulating online corroborated its presence there, aligning with the jet’s known range of approximately 3,500 kilometers, insufficient for a direct flight from Bengaluru to Russia’s Akhtubinsk Air Base without a layover. However, Solangi’s claim that the jet belonged to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and was forcibly intercepted by Iran has raised eyebrows, given that India does not operate the Su-57.
Indian X users swiftly countered the narrative. One popular response quipped, “Education is Crime in Pak Pak Pand?”—a jab implying that Solangi’s assertion stemmed from a lack of basic understanding. The IAF has no Su-57s in its inventory; the aircraft at Aero India was a Russian demonstrator showcased by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to pitch its export variant, the Su-57E, to India.
The incident—or lack thereof—has fueled a broader online spat. Indian handles have seized on the post to mock its factual inaccuracies, with some suggesting it reflects a pattern of misinformation from certain quarters. “The Su-57 that attended Aero India 2025 was enroute to Russia, not flown by India,” one user clarified, pointing out that Solangi’s conflation of ownership defied both logic and public evidence from the airshow. Others highlighted India’s diplomatic finesse, noting that the same event saw U.S. F-35s sharing the tarmac with the Russian jet—hardly the backdrop for an IAF-owned Su-57 blundering into Iranian airspace.
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