President Droupadi Murmu flew a Rafale flight at Ambala and posed with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh — a pointed response to Pakistan’s earlier capture claims after Operation Sindoor.
President Murmu’s Rafale Flight Becomes a Strong Symbol of India’s Air Power
President Droupadi Murmu took a symbolic flight in a Rafale fighter at the Indian Air Force’s Ambala base on October 29, 2025, and posed for photographs alongside Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh — the pilot Islamabad had earlier (and incorrectly) claimed to have captured during Operation Sindoor in May. The image and sortie are being read as a deliberate, stern message to Pakistan amid lingering cross-border tensions.
The Ambala sortie, organised by the IAF, also featured Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh leading a formation and multiple high-profile pilots giving the President an overview of the Rafale’s capabilities. The flight lasted about 30 minutes, covered roughly 200 km, reached around 15,000 ft, and cruised at about 700 km/h, according to the President’s office. The public photo-op showed the Varanasi-born Squadron Leader Singh standing with the President beside the multi-role fighter — a visual rebuttal to Pakistan’s earlier narrative.
In May, after India struck terror bases in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistani media and official channels circulated claims that Indian pilots — including a Rafale pilot — had been captured. Those claims were repeatedly denied by Indian authorities and later discredited. Observers say Wednesday’s Rafale flight and the President’s visible interaction with Squadron Leader Singh were meant to underscore India’s rebuttal and showcase its air-power confidence.
