Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down Pak jet after Balakot strikes joins private airline

Former Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, renowned for his role in the post-Balakot operations, has reportedly transitioned to commercial aviation, joining the regional airline FLY91 as a pilot, according to sources. Varthaman, who hails from Goa and was awarded the Vir Chakra for his exceptional courage during the dogfight with a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in February 2019, is said to have joined FLY91 in August.

FLY91, a relatively new airline that commenced operations in March 2024, currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft, with its bases located in Goa and Hyderabad. However, a spokesperson for FLY91 declined to comment on Varthaman's employment status, citing privacy concerns regarding the personal details of their employees.

Varthaman's Vir Chakra award, second only to India's Param Vir Chakra, was bestowed upon him for his exceptional sense of duty during the February 27, 2019 dogfight. The citation described him as having displayed an "exceptional sense of duty" in thwarting a Pakistani aerial attack on February 27, 2019.