- Abhinandan Varthaman, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who shot down a Pakistani jet in February 2019 and was held captive for three days, has taken premature retirement from the Air Force to begin his new aviation career as a commercial pilot with a private airline.
- Varthaman joined the private airline FLY91 in August.
- Currently, Varthaman has not issued any statement regarding his retirement, and a FLY91 spokesperson has stated that personal information about employees is a private matter.
- FLY91, which started operations in March 2024, currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft and has its bases in Goa and Hyderabad.
Abhinandan Varthaman, a celebrated Indian Air Force pilot, has transitioned to a commercial pilot role with FLY91 after retiring from military service.12
Varthaman, who served for 22 years, gained fame for downing a Pakistani F-16 during a 2019 aerial confrontation.
He was captured and held for three days before being released, an event that heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Vir Chakra awardee's new role at FLY91, which operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft, marks a significant shift in his career.56
FLY91 commenced operations in March 2024, with bases in Goa and Hyderabad.
Varthaman's decision to join the airline was reported in August, although he has not publicly commented on his retirement or new position.
A spokesperson for FLY91 declined to provide personal details about employees, citing privacy concerns.
Varthaman's legacy includes his valor during the 2019 conflict, where he displayed an exceptional sense of duty during the dogfight, earning him India's third-highest wartime gallantry medal.
His capture and subsequent release were pivotal moments in a military crisis that underscored the fragile relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“Varthaman joined FLY91 in August, and the airline, which began flying in March 2024, operates six ATR 72-600 aircraft from bases in Goa and Hyderabad. He has not issued a statement, and a FLY91 spokesperson declined to comment, citing employee privacy.”
