As the ceasefire between India and Pakistan currently holds, social media has been flooded with rumors alleging that a Pakistani nuclear facility may have sustained damage during Indian airstrikes. Adding fuel to the fire, online users pointed to flight tracking data showing the presence of a U.S. nuclear emergency response aircraft — the B-350 AMS — reportedly conducting radiation monitoring over Pakistani territory.
Pakistan operates twelve key airbases distributed across three commands: Northern, Central, and Southern. In addition to these, there are numerous non-flying support stations that handle maintenance, logistics, and administrative tasks. According to a 12 May press briefing, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is said to have carried out targeted strikes on several of these strategic installations.
The reported targets included Rafiqui Airbase (Shorkot), Nur Khan Airbase (Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, and radar stations in Pasrur and Sialkot. Satellite imagery also allegedly shows that Malir Cantonment in Karachi was struck — suggesting that IAF operations reached every major Pakistani urban center including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, and Karachi.
Alongside these confirmed targets, online speculation grew that the IAF had also struck a nuclear storage site at Kirana Hills, near Sargodha. This claim surfaced after damage was reportedly observed at Mushaf Airbase, believed to be connected to underground bunkers storing nuclear warheads.
Flight Tracking Sparks Radiation Concerns
Claims that a U.S. Department of Energy aircraft—specifically the B-350 AMS, used for nuclear emergency response—was spotted flying over Pakistan further intensified public speculation. Users on Flightradar24 tracked the aircraft with registration N111SZ, fueling theories that it had been dispatched to evaluate a potential radiation leak caused by the alleged Indian strike.
Netizens shared detailed tracking data and said, “See who has landed in Pakistan,” linking the aircraft to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team. The user also emphasized the need for patience in times of uncertainty, warning against jumping to conclusions until clear evidence emerged.
As these claims gained momentum, some Indian open-source intelligence (OSINT) communities and social media commentators suggested that Pakistan had urgently sought U.S. intervention to halt further strikes, possibly due to fears over additional attacks on its nuclear assets.
According to a report cited by The New York Times, a former U.S. official familiar with Pakistan’s nuclear command structure suggested that Islamabad’s worst-case scenario is a “decapitation” of its nuclear command authority. The missile strike on Nur Khan Airbase, in this context, was seen by some as a potential signal from India of its capability and intent.
India Denies Targeting Nuclear Sites
In response to the growing speculation, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, firmly denied any attacks on nuclear facilities. During the 12 May briefing, he responded sarcastically to the allegations, stating that India was not even aware Kirana Hills housed nuclear storage.
Despite this categorical denial, questions surrounding the B-350 AMS aircraft’s reported flight remain unresolved. Some OSINT researchers claim that the aircraft in question may no longer belong to the U.S. Department of Energy, suggesting that it had been transferred to Pakistan Army Aviation as early as 2010. In fact, photographs of the aircraft labeled 045 under Pakistani ownership date back to 2015.
However, neither this transfer nor the aircraft’s mission has been independently confirmed. The EurAsian Times reported that it could not verify whether the aircraft had actually landed in Pakistan or what its purpose might have been.
Social media, meanwhile, continues to buzz with memes and posts speculating that India may have deliberately avoided acknowledging a strike on a nuclear facility to prevent international condemnation.
What Is the B-350 AMS?
The Beechcraft B350 AMS in question is not your average aircraft. Operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, it serves a highly specialized role under the Aerial Measuring System (AMS)—a premier program for nuclear emergency response. This aircraft is designed specifically to detect radioactive contamination, map the spread of nuclear fallout, and assist during radiological crises. It doesn’t transport passengers, nor does it conduct routine military surveillance. Its sudden emergence in Pakistani airspace—coinciding with Indian precision strikes on multiple military installations, including Mushaf Airbase near the suspected nuclear site at Kirana Hills—has raised significant eyebrows.
Historically, the B350 AMS has only been deployed in major nuclear scenarios: after the Fukushima disaster, during American nuclear drills, and in assessments following nuclear tests. Deployments overseas are exceedingly rare and typically require a diplomatic or strategic justification.
What Is the B350 AMS Capable Of?
This aircraft is equipped with advanced gamma radiation detectors, real-time data relay systems, and detailed geospatial mapping equipment. It is engineered for low-altitude, slow-speed flight to accurately scan and identify radioactive materials both in the atmosphere and on land. Operated by specialized teams trained in nuclear monitoring, the aircraft is capable of detecting specific radioactive isotopes and providing live data to military and emergency authorities.
Past missions involving the B350 AMS have included:
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Monitoring radiation leaks after nuclear plant accidents
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Supporting emergency services during radiological incidents
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Conducting post-strike assessments in nuclear-capable regions
Its appearance over Pakistan therefore suggests something more serious than a conventional conflict. If there was no radiological threat, why deploy a plane designed to respond to one?
What was a 🇺🇸US nuclear emergency aircraft doing over 🇵🇰Pakistan?
A rare aircraft, built for nuclear disaster response, was spotted in 🇵🇰Pakistani airspace shortly after 🇮🇳 Indian airstrikes on key military facilities. While both nations stay tight-lipped, the presence of this… pic.twitter.com/7NxHaW8MXS
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) May 12, 2025
The Mystery of Its Presence in Pakistan
Pakistan has not publicly acknowledged the aircraft’s presence. However, flight tracking websites such as Flightradar24 showed activity from an aircraft identified as N111SZ, a B350 AMS variant. Some open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts noted that this aircraft was reportedly handed over to Pakistan Army Aviation in 2010. But the story doesn’t end there.
Even if the aircraft is now Pakistani-operated, its original design and configuration remain nuclear-focused. If it took to the skies during or immediately after India’s strikes, two interpretations emerge:
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Pakistan suspected a radiation leak and deployed the aircraft as a precaution.
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The aircraft was sent in collaboration with the U.S. to assess potential damage to nuclear facilities.
Either scenario implies serious internal concern and lends credibility to the theory that a sensitive site—possibly Kirana Hills, rumored to house nuclear assets—might have been affected.
While India has firmly denied targeting any nuclear infrastructure and Pakistan has stayed largely silent, the presence of a nuclear emergency aircraft strongly hints that more occurred behind the scenes than either nation is willing to admit.
(With Inputs From Eurasian Times)
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