Chief Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force receives the Vir Chakra.
New Delhi:
The Indian Air Force’s outstanding pilot captain, Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, was awarded the Vir Chakra Badge by President Ram Nath Kovind during his promotion ceremony today.
Abhinandan Varthaman was recently promoted to Captain.
Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during a dogfight on 27 February, a day after the Balakot air raid.
Delhi: Wing Commander (now Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during a dogfight on February 27, 2019. pic.twitter.com/CsDC0cYqds
– ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2021
In the process, he was flying over Pakistani-occupied Kashmir and his MiG-21 was hit and he had to rush out of enemy-controlled territory.
He was then taken into custody by the Pakistani Army. The Pakistani army was forced to release him due to great pressure from India along with international interference in the matter.
Abhinandan Varthaman was of the 51st squadron based in Srinagar and flew to thwart an air attack launched by the Pakistanis on 27 February 2019.
India carried out an airstrike against a Pakistani terrorist facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 26.
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