Captured in Pakistan for 60 hours, credited with shooting down F-16: Who is Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman who has quit IAF?

From MiG-21 cockpit to civilian aviation: The story of Abhinandan Varthaman

New Delhi: Seven years after becoming one of the most recognisable faces of India's military response during the 2019 India-Pakistan confrontation, Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has retired from the Indian Air Force.

Varthaman, who was then a Wing Commander, shot to national prominence after the aerial engagement on February 27, 2019, when he flew a MiG-21 Bison against Pakistani fighter aircraft. His aircraft was subsequently hit and he ejected over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where he was captured and held for nearly 60 hours before being released at the Wagah-Attari border on March 1.

The 2019 aerial battle

The dogfight took place a day after India's Balakot airstrike and amid a sharp escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

According to the Indian Air Force's account, Varthaman pursued an opposing fighter and engaged it with his MiG-21. The IAF said he shot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own aircraft was brought down.

The claim has remained disputed. Pakistan denied losing an F-16, while subsequent reporting and assessments have questioned whether an F-16 was actually destroyed. The episode therefore remains a contested aspect of the 2019 aerial confrontation.

Captured and held in Pakistan

After his MiG-21 was hit, Varthaman ejected and landed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

He was subsequently taken into custody by the Pakistani military after being confronted by local residents. His capture immediately became a major diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan eventually announced his release as a "peace gesture", and Varthaman crossed back into India through the Wagah-Attari border after spending roughly 60 hours in Pakistani custody.

His composure in videos released during his captivity, including his brief interaction with Pakistani officials, became widely discussed across India.

Vir Chakra and promotion

Varthaman continued his career in the IAF following his return. He was subsequently promoted to Group Captain and was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, for his actions during the 2019 aerial engagement.

His career in the Air Force spanned around 22 years, during which he served as a fighter pilot and became one of the country's most recognisable military aviators.

Abhinandan begins a new aviation chapter

Varthaman has now moved from military aviation to the civilian sector.

Officials said he left the Indian Air Force on March 31 and subsequently joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a pilot. His transition marks a new phase in a career that began in military aviation and took him into one of the most closely watched aerial confrontations between India and Pakistan in recent decades.

For many Indians, however, Abhinandan Varthaman will remain associated with the distinctive moustache, calm demeanour and courage that made him a household name during the tense days of February-March 2019.