Woman Seen Flying F-35 Aircraft In Viral Video Is Not Col Sophia Qureshi

Claim 

Video showing Col Sophia Qureshi flying an aircraft. 

An archived version of the same video can be seen here.

Verification

We extracted keyframes from the viral video and subjected them to  a reverse image search.

We found the same video uploaded by a YouTube channel named @spencerhughes2255 on September 20, 2021.

The description of the video read, “Watch as Major Kristin “Beo” Wolfe performs the Air Combat Command F-35A Lightning II demonstration.”

With this we understand that the person who flew the F-35 aircraft was one Major Christine Beau Wolf. 

On looking up the name on Google, we found her profile on the official website of the  388th Fighter Wing unit of the US Air Force, which revealed that she was “the Commander, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.”

It further informed us that “she provides operational oversight and direction for the 13-personnel team, to include maintenance, aircrew flight equipment, and public affairs Airmen.’

We also came upon an interview with Major Kristin on airforceheritageflight.org on November 30, 2022.

Major Kristin’s profile can also be found here and here.

Another video of Major Kristin flying the F-35 was uploaded to Airshowguy916 on March 11, 2022, and can be viewed here.

Conclusion

Thus, our investigation reveals that the woman in the viral video is Major Christine Wolfe, a senior pilot for the US Air Force’s F-35 fighter jet and not Col Sophia Qureshi as is being claimed.

Sources
YouTube Video By spencerhughes2255, Dated: September 20, 2021
388th Fighter Wing, Bio Of Major KRISTIN “BEO” WOLFE
Interview By airforceheritageflight.org, Dated: November 30, 2022
YouTube Video By Airshowguy916, Dated: March 11, 2022