A video of an aircraft taking off vertically from a runway is going viral on social media platforms, with claims that it shows India’s combat aircraft Tejas (here, here, here, here, and here). In this article, we fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video showing India’s combat aircraft Tejas taking off vertically.
Fact: This is not a real video, and it does not show the Tejas aircraft. Instead, it features a simulation video. This video was uploaded on a Facebook page named ‘BAUS,’ which identifies itself as a gaming video creator and regularly shares aircraft simulation gaming clips. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Tejas Aircraft is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and is also known as the LCA Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft). According to information available on the HAL website, Tejas is not capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Its design adheres to traditional fighter jet principles, requiring a runway for both takeoff and landing. Information regarding vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable aircraft can be found here, here, here, and here.
Upon closely examining the viral video, we can identify several discrepancies that indicate it is not authentic footage but an animated creation. To gather more details about this video, we conducted a Google reverse image search using keyframes from the viral content. This search led us to the extended version of the same video, which was uploaded (archived link) on a Facebook channel called “BAUS” on 26 August 2024, with the caption “Super RARE VERTICAL takeoff of AV-8B Harrier fighter jet”. The same video was also uploaded (archived link) on the ‘BAUS’ YouTube channel on 21 August 2024. A disclaimer in the description of the video states, “This is the result of a game simulator, not a real event. Please enjoy the moment.” During this search, we found that the AV-8B Harrier is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable aircraft (here).
This page identifies itself as a “gaming video creator.” In the ‘About’ section of the channel, it states, “All videos are made from simulator games only for entertainment, they don’t actually happen in real life. Enjoy the show.” We also found that similar simulation videos are regularly published on this Facebook page (here, here, and here). From all this, it is evident that the video is a simulation and does not depict real footage of the Tejas, as claimed.
Earlier, when similar simulation gaming videos were shared as real visuals of aircraft, Factly published fact-check articles debunking those videos. Those fact-check articles can be seen here, here, and here.
To sum up, this viral video shows a simulation and does not depict real visuals of India’s combat aircraft Tejas.
