Abhinandan Varthaman, who ejected inside Pak in 2019, retires from IAF, joins private airlines
Varthaman, a former Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee, served in the Indian Air Force for 22 years. According to the report, he joined FLY91 in August.
PTC News Desk: Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who spent three days in Pakistani custody after his aircraft was shot down during an aerial fight with a Pakistan Air Force jet in February 2019, has taken premature retirement from the Air Force.
He has now started a new career in commercial aviation and has reportedly joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a commercial pilot, according to sources.
Varthaman, a former Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee, served in the Indian Air Force for 22 years. According to the report, he joined FLY91 in August.
Varthaman has not made any public statement about his new role so far. A FLY91 spokesperson also declined to share any personal information about its employees, saying such matters are private.
FLY91 began operations in March 2024 and currently has six ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline operates from two bases, Goa and Hyderabad.
Who is Abhinandan Varthaman ?
In February 2019, India carried out air strikes on a suspected terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot. The strikes came days after a suicide bombing in Pulwama killed 40 CRPF personnel. India said the target was a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) training camp.
Pakistan responded with air operations the following day, raising fears of a military conflict between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman became the most prominent face of the confrontation after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down and he was captured by Pakistan.
Before his aircraft was hit on February 27, 2019, Varthaman had reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter during the aerial combat.
Varthaman was captured after ejecting from his damaged aircraft and remained in Pakistani custody for three days. He was released on the night of March 1, 2019.
He suffered injuries while ejecting from the MiG-21 during the dogfight.
Later that year, Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. According to the award citation, he displayed an "exceptional sense of duty" during the aerial battle.