Abhinandan Varthaman Joins FLY91 After Retiring From Indian Air Force

Decorated former Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who became a national figure following the 2019 India-Pakistan aerial confrontation, has reportedly started a new chapter in his career by joining regional airline FLY91 as a pilot.

According to PTI, Varthaman joined the Goa-based airline in August 2026. Details about his exact role and responsibilities have not been disclosed. A spokesperson for FLY91 declined to comment, saying information concerning individual employees is private.

Varthaman is among India's best-known fighter pilots. He gained widespread recognition after the aerial engagement with Pakistani aircraft on February 27, 2019, a day after India's Balakot airstrikes.

Abhinandan Varthaman's 2019 aerial encounter

At the time of the confrontation, Varthaman was a Wing Commander flying a MiG-21 Bison. During the engagement, he was credited with shooting down a Pakistani F-16 before his own aircraft was hit by a missile.

He ejected from the damaged fighter and landed in Pakistani territory, where he was captured by Pakistani forces. Varthaman remained in captivity for nearly 60 hours before Pakistan handed him back to India at the Attari-Wagah border on March 1, 2019.

The episode attracted international attention and made Varthaman one of the most recognisable faces of the Indian Air Force.

Awarded the Vir Chakra

For his conduct during the aerial engagement, Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra in 2021. The official citation recognised his actions and described his sense of duty as exceptional.

The Vir Chakra is one of India's wartime gallantry awards and is the country's third-highest wartime military decoration.

Connection with the Balakot strikes

The February 2019 air combat occurred one day after the Indian Air Force conducted strikes on a terrorist target in Balakot, Pakistan.

The operation followed the February 14, 2019 Pulwama suicide attack, in which 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed.

The subsequent aerial confrontation between Indian and Pakistani aircraft became a major episode in the military tensions between the two countries.

Abhinandan Varthaman's move to FLY91

FLY91 began commercial operations in March 2024 and is headquartered in Goa. The regional airline operates ATR 72-600 aircraft and has bases in Goa and Hyderabad.

The carrier focuses on connecting smaller cities with larger aviation hubs as part of its regional connectivity network.

Varthaman's reported move from military aviation to commercial flying marks a significant new phase in the career of the decorated former fighter pilot, whose actions during the 2019 aerial confrontation made him a prominent figure in India's military history.