Simulation Video Passed off as Real & Recent Visuals of Tejas Aircraft

We found that neither is this video show real visuals nor is it related to Tejas.

Fact-Check | The video is a simulation and does not show real visuals.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A video of an aircraft taking off from a runway is going viral on social media platforms with users claiming that it shows recent visuals of India's combat aircraft Tejas.

What do viral posts say?: An X (formerly Twitter) premium account shared the video with a caption that said, "नया भारत - Tejas taking vertical take off. A treat to watch." This post had garnered over a lakh views on the platform.

An archive of the post can be found here.

(Source: X/Screenshot)

We received multiple queries about the viral video on our WhatsApp tipline too. You can view archives of similar such posts here, here, and here.

What are the facts?: Neither is this video related to Tejas nor does it show real visuals. It shows a simulation clip of 'AV-8B Harrier' fighter jet.

How did we find that out?: On conducting a Google Lens search on the keyframes of the video, it led us to the same visuals uploaded on a Facebook page named 'BAUS'.

• The video was posted on 26 August and its caption said, "Super RARE VERTICAL TAKEOFF of AV-8B Harrier fighter jet. #Amazing #crazy #usa #fly #aviation #planespotting #airforce #aircraft #military #takeoff #fighter #navy #fighterjet."

About the Facebook page: Team WebQoof found that the handle identified itself as a 'gaming video creator'.

• The bio of the page said, "All videos are made from simulator games only for entertainment, they don't actually happen in real life. Enjoy the show."

• We found that similar videos were regularly published on the Facebook page.

The bio of the page said it was gaming video creator.

(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

Conclusion: Evidently, the video is a simulation and not real as claimed in the viral social media post.

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