Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has started a new chapter in his career. He has joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a commercial pilot. According to sources, he joined the airline in August 2026.
Abhinandan’s new role will be completely different from flying fighter jets. He is undergoing training to fly FLY91’s ATR 72-600 passenger aircraft. According to reports, his training is currently taking place on the Goa-Hyderabad route. He will operate commercial flights after completing the required training and obtaining regulatory approvals.
Abhinandan was awarded the Vir Chakra for his bravery in 2021.
Shot down an F-16 on February 27, 2019
Abhinandan came into the spotlight on February 27, 2019, during the aerial confrontation between India and Pakistan. At the time, he was flying a MiG-21 Bison and was part of a mission to intercept Pakistani fighter jets.
During the engagement, he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft. However, his MiG-21 also crashed, forcing him to parachute into Pakistan. He was subsequently held in Pakistani custody for around three days and returned to India on March 1, 2019.
Received the Vir Chakra for bravery
For his exceptional courage and devotion to duty during the aerial engagement, he was awarded the Vir Chakra in 2021. It is India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award. The award citation mentioned his “exceptional sense of duty”.
Abhinandan later rose to the rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. He has now left the Air Force and is beginning a new career in civil aviation.
What will he do at FLY91?
FLY91 began operations in March 2024. The airline currently operates six ATR 72-600 aircraft and has two bases, in Goa and Hyderabad. It focuses on connecting smaller cities across the country through air connectivity.
FLY91 has confirmed Abhinandan’s joining but has not shared detailed information about his training or future flights. The airline said that commenting on employees’ personal information is not its practice.
