IAF hero Abhinandan Varthaman, who downed Pak jet in 2019, joins private airline
Varthaman has reportedly joined FLY91, a low-cost regional airline that currently operates operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, a distinguished Indian Air Force officer and Vir Chakra recipient, has retired from the IAF after 22 years of service and joined FLY91, a Goa-based regional airline. Varthaman gained widespread recognition for his bravery during a 2019 aerial skirmish with Pakistan, where he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in a MiG-21 Bison. Following his capture and subsequent return by Pakistan, he resumed his service and was promoted. His move to the private sector with FLY91, an airline focused on connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities, signifies a new chapter in his professional journey.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, a distinguished Indian Air Force officer and Vir Chakra recipient, has retired from the IAF after 22 years of service and joined FLY91, a Goa-based regional airline. Varthaman gained widespread recognition for his bravery during a 2019 aerial skirmish with Pakistan, where he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in a MiG-21 Bison. Following his capture and subsequent return by Pakistan, he resumed his service and was promoted. His move to the private sector with FLY91, an airline focused on connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities, signifies a new chapter in his professional journey.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, a distinguished Indian Air Force officer and Vir Chakra recipient, has retired from the IAF after 22 years of service and joined FLY91, a Goa-based regional airline. Varthaman gained widespread recognition for his bravery during a 2019 aerial skirmish with Pakistan, where he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in a MiG-21 Bison. Following his capture and subsequent return by Pakistan, he resumed his service and was promoted. His move to the private sector with FLY91, an airline focused on connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities, signifies a new chapter in his professional journey.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has quit the Indian Air Force and joined a Goa-based airline, FLY91, according to news agency PTI. Varthaman is a recipient of the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, for showing remarkable skill and courage during a 2019 Pakistani airstrike over the Line of Control (LoC).
His decision to quit the force and join the private airline comes after a widely praised 22-year career in the IAF.
Following the Pulwama suicide attack in Kashmir on February 14, 2019, which killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, the IAF carried out an air strike with Mirage-2000s on a Jaish-e-Mohammed facility. The day after the strike, Pakistani fighter jets attempted to launch an attack.
Varthaman, then 35, was part of the 51 Squadron on “operational readiness platform” duty at Air Force Station Srinagar. When a large Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft package was detected heading towards the LoC, Varthaman was scrambled to intercept it within five minutes of detection.
During the strike, Varthaman, who was flying a MiG-21 Bison, came into contact with a Pakistani F-16. The IAF said that he shot down the Pakistani fighter before his own aircraft was hit.
However, in the combat, a fighter aircraft fired multiple BVR missiles at him, which forced him to enter Pakistan-controlled territory. Subsequently, he was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.
Three days later, on March 1, the Pakistan Army returned him to India after prolonged discussions and negotiations with the Indian government. He returned to active duty in August 2019 and was promoted from Wing Commander to Group Captain in 2021.
The Vir Chakra awarded to him was published in the Gazette of India in December 2019. It said the aggressive techniques employed by Varthaman caused immense chaos on the other side.
It further added that he showed immense bravery in engaging an aircraft package with “immense numerical and technological superiority.” Experts noted it as the first-ever hit on an F-16 by a MiG-21 Bison, which are fighter jets from two different generations.
FLY91 is a low-cost regional airline based in Goa that connects tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India. It was launched in 2024 and currently serves 14 domestic destinations, including key destinations like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Pune. It operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft.