India’s First Woman Rafale Pilot Poses with President at Ambala, Exposing Islamabad’s False Claims of Capture During Operation Sindoor
In a powerful symbolic moment that demolished Pakistani propaganda, President Droupadi Murmu completed a thirty-minute sortie in a Rafale fighter jet at Ambala Air Force Station on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian President to fly in both Sukhoi-30 MKI and Rafale aircraft . What made this historic flight particularly significant was her appearance alongside Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India’s first woman Rafale pilot.
During Operation Sindoor in May, Pakistan’s propaganda machinery had circulated fake videos claiming Squadron Leader Singh’s Rafale was shot down near Sialkot and that she had been captured as a prisoner of war. The Press Information Bureau Fact Check swiftly dismissed these claims as baseless and fabricated .
The twenty-nine-year-old pilot from Varanasi is part of the Golden Arrows Squadron and joined the Indian Air Force in 2017 . During the President’s visit, Singh briefed her about the Rafale’s capabilities, providing a hands-on tour of the multirole fighter aircraft.
The sortie covered approximately two hundred kilometers, with the aircraft flying at fifteen thousand feet altitude and speeds reaching seven hundred kilometers per hour, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of 17 Squadron . President Murmu later described the experience as “unforgettable,” expressing renewed pride in India’s defense capabilities.
The photograph of the President and Squadron Leader Singh standing together before the Rafale jet sent an unmistakable message across the border India’s skies remain secure and its spirit unshaken.
About The Author
