India shoots down Pakistani JF-17 fighter plane in a border calsh on May 8, 2025, under Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 over Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir. The incident comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in fatalities. India asserts the jet tried to violate its airspace.
Defense officials verified the destruction of the jet and spread debris all over the area. Pakistan faces a strategic blow, while global powers urge restraint. As both militaries stay on high alert, fears of escalation rise. This event also tests India’s aerial readiness and could reshape regional air superiority dynamics.
India has successfully shot down 2 Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts. pic.twitter.com/FefObRNPw5
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) May 8, 2025
Operation Sindoor: India’s Ongoing Response to Pahalgam Attack
The government of India initiated Operation Sindoor following a terror attack in Pahalgam. The objective: eliminate cross-border threats. The shootdown of the Pakistani fighter plane now signifies a bold transformation in India’s military stance. Indian authorities were clear in their message—any incursion of Indian airspace shall face a fierce retaliation.
Around 9:35 PM IST, IAF radars picked up a Pakistani JF-17 entering Indian airspace. IAF fighter aircraft took off in quick response. In a brief engagement, they intercepted and destroyed the incoming aircraft. The wreckage fell in Pulwama. Ground units later retrieved the crash site.
JF-17: Symbol of China-Pakistan Military Ties
The JF-17, known as Thunder, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter plane. Pakistan and China collaborated to develop it. The aircraft can attack in air-to-air, ground, and sea battles. It possesses a top velocity of 1,910 km/h with a range of more than 1,200 km. Pakistan operates more than 100 JF-17s—giving this loss symbolic and strategic ground.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the swift response of the IAF. India will not tolerate any challenge to its sovereignty, he stated. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri termed it as a defensive response, not provocative. The Ministry of External Affairs seconded it, reiterating India’s resolve for territorial integrity.
