Vir Chakra pilot Abhinandan Varthaman joins regional airline FLY91 as commercial pilot

Former Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down a Pakistani aircraft during aerial combat in 2019, has taken up commercial aviation with regional carrier FLY91, sources have confirmed.

The Vir Chakra awardee joined the Goa-based airline as a pilot in August, according to sources who spoke to PTI. A FLY91 spokesperson declined to comment, stating that personal information about employees is a private matter.

From combat missions to commercial flights

Varthaman was honoured with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry medal, in 2021 for displaying an "exceptional sense of duty" during the dogfight with Pakistan, according to the award citation. During the 2019 aerial engagement, he downed an enemy jet but was subsequently held captive in Pakistan for three days before being released.

FLY91 began operations in March 2024 and currently flies a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft from two bases in Goa and Hyderabad. The move marks a transition for the decorated fighter pilot from military aviation to the regional airline sector, though further details about his role and responsibilities could not be immediately ascertained.

The development comes as India's regional aviation sector continues to expand, with carriers like FLY91 adding capacity to connect tier-2 and tier-3 cities across the country.

Source: The Hindu