Abhinandan Varthaman Joins FLY91 as Commercial Pilot
Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has signed up as a pilot for regional airline FLY91 that is based in Goa, which indicates a new stage of his aviation career. Varthaman resigned from the army on March 31, 2026, after serving in the Indian Air Force for close to 22 years. Later on, he moved on to civil aviation and joined the ranks of FLY91 in August 2026 and started type rating and other necessary procedures. He rose to fame following the aerial engagement in 2019 near the Line of Control and was awarded the Vir Chakra for his services.
Varthaman served in the Indian Air Force for close to 22 years during which time he flew combat aircrafts.
His name came into the international limelight as a result of the aerial engagement on February 27, 2019, near the Line of Control when he flew a MiG-21 Bison and later on was captured in Pakistan after ejecting from the damaged plane.
He returned back to India after three days of captivity.
In November 2021, the President of India presented Varthaman the Vir Chakra, which is one of India’s gallantry awards during war.
The Vir Chakra is the third-highest wartime gallantry award in India after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.
Military service and the events that happened in 2019 have made him one of the most recognizable Indian military aviators in recent times.
After he retired from the IAF on March 31, 2026, Varthaman embarked on a career in civilian flying.
In August 2026, he joined FLY91 and started undergoing the mandatory type training and clearance for regional commercial services. This transition indicates a move from military fighter aircraft to regional civilian aircraft.
FLY91 is a Goa-based regional carrier, which commenced its commercial operations from March 2024.
Till September 3, 2026, FLY91 had six ATR 72-600 aircraft in its fleet, and its base airports are Goa and Hyderabad.
The ATR 72-600 is a twin turboprop aircraft, commonly used for regional connectivity. FLY91’s regional connectivity network caters to smaller cities and markets.
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