Thai JIC Debunks F-16 Crash Claim by Cambodia

The Joint Information Centre on the Thailand-Cambodia Situation (JIC) has dismissed a viral video circulating on Cambodian social media that falsely claimed a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) F-16 fighter jet had crashed during a training flight. On Monday, July 13, Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee, director of the centre, confirmed the footage was unrelated to the RTAF or any Thai military operation.

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According to the JIC, checks established that the video actually showed a Hellenic Air Force F-16 making an emergency landing at Zakynthos Airport in Greece on July 9. The aircraft, assigned to 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing, suffered a technical malfunction during a training flight, the Hellenic Air Force said.

Video from the incident showed the fighter carrying out a gear-up, or belly, landing before catching fire after touching down on the runway. The pilot exited the aircraft safely and was reported to be in good health. The Hellenic Air Force said 335 Squadron operates F-16 Block 52+ Advanced aircraft.

The JIC stressed that the footage had been repackaged with misleading text intended to convince viewers that the aircraft involved belonged to the Royal Thai Air Force. Air Chief Marshal Prapas warned that spreading distorted information could create public confusion, damage the credibility of news and information, and contribute to false perceptions, particularly during periods of heightened security sensitivity.

The centre urged the public to verify information through credible media organisations or relevant government agencies before believing or sharing online content. It said greater care when circulating information would help reduce the spread of fake news and limit its wider impact.

The clarification comes against the backdrop of continuing sensitivity over Thailand-Cambodia relations. The two countries have disputed undemarcated sections of their 817-kilometre land border for decades, with tensions escalating after a soldier was killed in a border skirmish in late May 2025.

The dispute developed into five days of heavy fighting in July 2025 involving artillery, rockets and Thai air strikes. An initial ceasefire later collapsed, and a second round of fighting lasted 20 days in December before another truce was agreed on December 27, 2025. Both countries have accused each other of initiating the hostilities, while Reuters reported that nearly 150 people were killed and at least 300,000 displaced across the two rounds of fighting.

The Nation reported that although troops remained deployed on both sides of the border, leaders from Thailand and Cambodia agreed to pursue de-escalation and trust-building measures. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said on July 8 that the country continued to observe the December ceasefire and remained committed to resolving outstanding issues through bilateral dialogue. The ceasefire agreement also included a commitment by both countries to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news.

Picture courtesy of The Nation

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14 July 2026

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