Abhinandan Varthaman joins Fly91 as commercial pilot

Abhinandan Varthaman, a former Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and Vir Chakra recipient, has reportedly transitioned to a career in commercial aviation. After taking voluntary retirement from the military, Varthaman joined Fly91, a Goa-based regional airline, as a pilot in August.

He is currently undergoing mandatory training required to operate commercial aircraft. Once regulatory approvals are secured, he is expected to fly ATR 72-600 aircraft on regional routes, including sectors between Goa and Hyderabad.

Varthaman gained international recognition in February 2019 during an aerial combat encounter between India and Pakistan, during which he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet before being captured and subsequently released. Fly91, which commenced operations in March 2024, has declined to provide specific details regarding his role, citing employee privacy.