Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman joins regional carrier FLY91 as pilot
Former IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, a Vir Chakra recipient, has joined regional airline FLY91 as a pilot.
Abhinandan Varthaman, the decorated former Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain who was awarded the Vir Chakra for his actions in a 2019 aerial engagement, has moved into commercial aviation. He has joined FLY91, a regional carrier headquartered in Goa, as a pilot.
Varthaman officially joined the airline in August, according to sources familiar with the development. FLY91 has not commented on the matter, citing its policy of keeping personnel details private. The specific nature of his role with the airline has not been disclosed.
Varthaman came into the national spotlight in February 2019 when his MiG-21 was shot down during a dogfight with Pakistani fighter jets across the Line of Control. During the engagement, he was credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft before being captured and held in Pakistani custody for three days.
In 2021, he was conferred the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. The official citation praised his "exceptional sense of duty" during the high-stakes aerial combat.
FLY91 began its commercial flight operations in March 2024. The airline currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft, with operational bases in Goa and Hyderabad.