Claim
A photo posted June 13 on X claims to show an Israeli fighter jet shot down by Iran.
Fact Check
1. Source analysis:
The photo in the post, showing a burning aircraft wreckage, was reverse-searched using Google Lens. Results show that the image first appeared on May 28, 2024, in a report by The Aviationist, a reputable aviation news site.
The image is a screenshot taken from a KOB4 news broadcast, which reported on the crash of a U.S. F-35 near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
2. Media coverage
Photos taken by eyewitnesses – such as those shared by the X account @rawsalerts – showed smoke rising from the site shortly after impact.
Additional coverage from The Aviationist included other angles of the crash scene, documenting the incident from takeoff to fire.
3. Airspace shutdown
Flight navigation alerts issued at the time confirmed a temporary airspace shutdown over the area, further verifying that the incident occurred near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Verdict
The post is out of context. The image used to support the viral claim shows the wreckage of an aircraft after a crash in the U.S. and has no connection to recent Israel-Iran conflict. Viewers should remain cautious when encountering sensational visuals during conflicts and are encouraged to verify content through original sources and cross-referencing visual evidence.
