‘We Both Fought Pakistan’: IAF Chief Flies MiG-21 With Abhinandan

The sortie was flown from the Pathankot air base in Punjab, and lasted for around half-an-hour.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (right) with Air Force chief Marshall BS Dhanoa (left).

(Photo: ANI)

Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was recently awarded the Vir Chakra after he downed a Pakistan fighter jet in February, went on a MiG-21 sortie with Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa on Monday, 2 September.

The 30-minute sortie came nearly six months after Varthaman sustained injuries while ejecting from a MiG 21 Bison during an aerial combat between India and Pakistan on 27 February.

He started flying the MiG-21 in August after he was declared medically fit.

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

‘Honour to Fly With Varthaman,’ Says IAF Chief

Both Abhinanadan and Dhanoa are MiG-21 pilots. Dhanoa had flown the Russia-made fighter jet during the 1999 Kargil war, where he was commanding the 17 squadron.

"It was an honour for me to fly with him. We have two things in common – both of us ejected, and second, both of us have fought Pakistanis," said the IAF chief, who is set to retire on 30 September.

Dhanoa also praised Varthaman for returning to flying in less than six months since being injured.

“He (Varthaman) got back his flying category in less than six months, which is good,” said Dhanoa.

When Dhanoa Flew With Varthaman Sr

As a young pilot, the Air Force chief flew the Mig 21 jet with Abhinandan Varthaman’s father, Simhakutty Varthaman, who retired as air marshal.

Air Marshal Simhakutty joined the IAF in 1973 and has around 4,000 hours of flying experience.

Abhinandan Varthaman was conferred the Vir Chakra, the coveted wartime gallantry medal, for downing the F-16 jet of Pakistan during the aerial combat.

(With inputs from PTI)