Former IAF Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot to fame during the 2019 India-Pakistan aerial engagement, has joined FLY91 as a commercial pilot. — Internet

New Delhi: The former Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman (retd), who was conferred the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani fighter jet during Balakot attack has joined a Goa-based regional airline as a pilot. According to an statement, he joined the airline last month.

In February 2019, Gp Capt. Vardhaman, then a Wing Commander. flying his MiG-21 Bison had brought down a Pakistani F16 in a dogfight which had intruded in Indian airspace on February 27, 2019. During the chase then-Wg Cmdr Abhinandan’s MiG21 was hit and he had to eject over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He was captured and Pakistan’s then- Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the next day that Wg Cmdr Abhinandan would be released on March 1 as a "peace gesture".

The Goa-based airline, which started operations in March 2024 has a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline's two bases are Goa and Hyderabad.

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