India’s Abhinandan Varthaman retires, joins private airline ‘Fly91’

NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force Pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has retired from the Indian Air Force and will now fly a passenger aircraft. After his career in the Air Force, Abhinandan has joined Fly91, an airline owned by Malayali entrepreneur Manoj Chacko, as a commercial pilot. He is reportedly set to fly ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft. Reports say that Abhinandan joined the Goa-based airline in August.

On February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes on terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan, in retaliation for the Pulwama attack. The following day, February 27, India thwarted Pakistani fighter jets that attempted to enter Indian airspace across the Line of Control. Abhinandan, who was flying a MiG-21 Bison, shot down a US-made Pakistani F-16 fighter jet after it violated Indian airspace. However, his aircraft was hit by a missile and crashed, and Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan.

Following strong pressure from India, Pakistan handed Abhinandan over to India unconditionally on March 1. The episode made him a national hero. In 2021, Abhinandan Varthaman received the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime military decoration. Abhinandan, who was then a Wing Commander, was promoted to the rank of Group Captain in 2021. Reports say that he retired from the Indian Air Force on March 31, 2026.