Former Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman joins regional airline FLY91 as pilot - The Hindu

**Former IAF Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman Joins Regional Carrier FLY91 as Pilot**

New Delhi – After 22 years of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has resigned his commission and taken up a commercial pilot’s seat with FLY91, a regional airline operating under the government’s UDAN (Ude desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. Varthaman rose to national prominence in February 2019 when his MiG‑29 shot down a Pakistan Air Force F‑16 during a cross‑border aerial encounter, an incident that saw him eject and land inside Pakistani territory before being repatriated. The veteran fighter pilot, who was awarded the Vir Chakra for his actions, announced his retirement from the IAF in a brief statement, citing a desire to continue his passion for flying in the civilian sector.

FLY91, headquartered in Delhi and focused on connecting tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, will employ Varthaman as a First‑Officer on its fleet of ATR‑72 turboprop aircraft. The airline, which launched operations earlier this year, aims to leverage his high‑profile name to boost passenger confidence and brand visibility as it expands routes across the north‑east and central regions of India. Varthaman will undergo the standard commercial pilot conversion training mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before being cleared for revenue flights, a process that includes simulator sessions and a type‑rating specific to the ATR platform.

Industry observers view the move as part of a growing trend of former military aviators transitioning to the burgeoning Indian civil aviation market, which is projected to double its passenger traffic by 2030. “Captain Varthaman brings a wealth of operational experience and a strong safety culture, attributes that align perfectly with FLY91’s commitment to reliable regional connectivity,” said Rohan Mehta, Chief Operating Officer of FLY91. While some political commentators have praised the decision as a testament to the professionalism of the armed forces, others caution that the glamour surrounding the former war hero should not eclipse the rigorous standards required for commercial airline operations.