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Fighter Pilot Abhinandan Who Crashed in Pakistan, Shot Down F-16 Quits Indian Air Force, Joins Private Airline

The decorated former fighter pilot joined the Goa-based airline in August, marking a civilian aviation move after his 2019 dogfight and capture.

  • Former Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a pilot, according to sources who told PTI he began his role in August.
  • FLY91 launched commercial flight operations in March 2024 and currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft from bases in Goa and Hyderabad, focusing on regional air connectivity.
  • Varthaman gained national prominence during the 2019 India-Pakistan military confrontation when he shot down an enemy aircraft before his MiG-21 Bison was struck, forcing him to eject into Pakistani territory.
  • The Indian government awarded Varthaman the Vir Chakra in 2021, the nation's third-highest wartime gallantry medal, for displaying an "exceptional sense of duty" during the aerial engagement.
  • A FLY91 spokesperson declined to comment on the appointment, citing the private nature of employee information; details about his specific responsibilities remain undisclosed.
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Abhinandan Varthaman shot down an enemy F-16 jet during a dogfight with Pakistan in 2019. He subsequently landed. Pakistan held him hostage for three days.

·India
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Latestly broke the news in Mumbai, India on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
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