After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, tensions between India and Pakistan have remained high, with both armies reportedly on alert. Amid this, a video (here, here and here) showing thick smoke rising from a residential area is going viral with the claim that a passenger plane was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, crashing into the area with around 100 people on board. Let’s find out the truth behind this video.
Claim: The viral video shows a recent incident where a passenger plane was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, killing around 100 people.
Fact: The viral video is actually from May 2020, when Pakistan International Airlines flight PK8303 crashed near Karachi due to human error. The final investigation report released in 2024 confirmed that the crash was caused by poor coordination between pilots and air traffic control, not any military action. hence the claim is FALSE.
To verify the truth, we performed a reverse image search on Google, which led us to the same viral visuals uploaded on YouTube by the channel LatestLY on 22 May 2020. The caption reads, “Pakistan International Airlines Plane Crashes Near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.” According to the video description, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-8303 from Lahore crashed near Model Colony, Malir, in Karachi while attempting to land. Geo News reported that the Airbus A320 was carrying 97 people, including 85 passengers and 12 crew members.
A side-by-side comparison of the viral video and the footage from the Pakistan plane crash, especially the nearby buildings and vehicles, confirms that both videos are from the same incident.
Further research led us to detailed reports of the incident (here and here). According to media outlets, in May 2020, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK8303 crashed near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport while approaching for landing, killing more than 97 people onboard. The aircraft went down in a densely populated area called Model Colony, damaging houses and vehicles. The pilot had reported technical issues, including engine failure and landing gear problems. Rescue operations were hindered due to narrow streets, and medical resources were already stretched because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered an immediate inquiry into the crash.
To find the reason behind the crash, we conducted a keyword search that led us to the final investigation report (here and here). Released in 2024, the report officially confirmed that the 2020 PIA Flight PK8303 crash was caused by human error. It highlighted poor coordination between the pilots and air traffic control, failure to deploy the landing gear during the first landing attempt, and a lack of communication after the engines were damaged, factors that ultimately led to the fatal crash.
To sum up, an old video of a 2020 plane crash in Karachi caused by human error is being falsely shared with the claim that a passenger plane was recently shot down by the Pakistan Air Force in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
