In a strange twist of events, social media users recently stumbled upon what appeared to be a classified ad for a British F-35 fighter jet. The post—designed to mimic a listing on popular Indian buy-and-sell site OLX—offered the American-made jet for a staggering $4 million (₹34 crore approx), claiming it came with “brand new tyres,” a “fresh battery,” and even a warranty valid till 2026.
To add to the oddity, the seller’s name was listed as “Donaldu Trumpan.”
Jet Lands in Kerala, Listing Surfaces Online
The prank traces back to Thiruvananthapuram, where a fighter jet recently made an emergency landing due to rough weather and low fuel while returning from a warship exercise. The aircraft remained parked at the airport for technical inspection, creating the perfect backdrop for someone to stage an online hoax.
F-35 is in India for 5 days
Indians have put up on OLX for sale 😭 pic.twitter.com/F2j5ZqcAIR
— Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch) June 20, 2025
The fake OLX-style listing, complete with pictures and specifications, quickly went viral. Thousands of users shared the screenshot, some even questioning its authenticity before fact-checkers stepped in.
Social Media Quick To Debunk Hoax
While the listing briefly sparked curiosity, alert netizens were quick to verify and debunk the post. It turned out to be a digitally manipulated prank with no connection to OLX or any official sale.
Not the First Online Aviation Prank
This isn’t the first instance where aircraft and online tricksters crossed paths. During Operation Sindoor, rumours spread about an IAF Rafale being downed. Following the speculation, listings surfaced online showing random metal pieces being sold by Pakistani vendors claiming they were Rafale debris, some priced as low as ₹20,000.
As with the F-35 prank, there was no official confirmation of any crash, and the posts were eventually dismissed as opportunistic hoaxes.
In an age of viral misinformation, this incident serves as yet another reminder: not everything online, especially a multimillion-dollar fighter jet listing is as it seems.
