Air chief flies MiG 21 with Abhinandan in Pathankot
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the IAF pilot who became the face of a tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in February, on Monday flew a MiG 21 fighter jet here.
Varthaman started flying the MiG 21 about two weeks ago, nearly six months after sustaining injuries while ejecting from a fighter plane during an aerial combat between India and Pakistan on February 27.
#WATCH Pathankot: IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman moving towards the MiG-21 before their sortie earlier today. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/Rz9KJVJVWi
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2019
On Monday, IAF Chief Dhanoa and Abhinandan took a sortie on the MiG 21 jet from the Pathankot air base, officials said.
The 36-year-old IAF pilot was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27 after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat.
Before his jet was hit, he downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan.
Varthaman was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan. He was taken off flying duties because of his injuries.
IAF Chief: Both of us have 2 things in common – 1st, both of us ejected & 2nd, both of us have fought Pakistanis. I fought in Kargil, he fought after Balakot. 3rd, I've flown with his father. It's an honour for me to do my last sortie in IAF, in a fighter aircraft, with his son. https://t.co/gqYsAX9UeO pic.twitter.com/FGP19nEc8C
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2019
Varthaman was conferred the Vir Chakra, the coveted wartime gallantry medal, for downing the F-16 jet of Pakistan during the aerial combat.
The Vir Chakra is the third highest gallantry award after the Paramvir Chakra and the Mahavir Chakra.
