Daijiworld Media Network - Goa

Goa, Sep 3: Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a pilot, sources told.

Varthaman reportedly joined the airline in August. Details regarding his specific role and responsibilities are not yet known. A spokesperson for FLY91 declined to comment, stating that employees’ personal information is private.

Varthaman rose to national prominence following the India-Pakistan aerial engagement in February 2019. A Wing Commander at the time, he was flying a MiG-21 Bison when he engaged Pakistani aircraft following the Indian Air Force's Balakot airstrikes.

During the aerial encounter on February 27, 2019, Varthaman was credited with shooting down a Pakistani F-16 before his own aircraft was hit by a missile. He ejected and landed in Pakistani territory, where he was captured and held for nearly 60 hours.

Pakistan handed him back to India at the Attari-Wagah border on March 1, 2019. His capture and subsequent release attracted widespread international attention.

In recognition of his role in the aerial engagement, Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra in 2021, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. The official citation praised his “exceptional sense of duty” during the operation.

From fighter cockpit to commercial aviation

Varthaman's reported move to FLY91 marks a new phase in the career of one of India's best-known fighter pilots.

Goa-based FLY91 commenced commercial operations in March 2024. The regional carrier operates ATR 72-600 aircraft and has bases in Goa and Hyderabad, with a focus on connecting smaller cities with major aviation hubs.

His transition from flying military fighter aircraft to commercial aviation comes after a distinguished career with the Indian Air Force and adds a notable name to the country's regional aviation sector.