Wing commander Abhinandan Returns to Squadron

Guwahati, March 27, 2019:

Ace fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who is reported to have shot down a Pakistani F-16 from his MiG-21, chose to go back to his squadron in Srinagar during his four-week sick leave, instead of spending time at his Chennai residence.

“During his sick leave, the officer had the option of going to his family home in Chennai where his parents live but he decided to go back to Srinagar where his squadron is deployed for operations,” sources in Air Force told ANI. “At the moment, the officer has decided to stay with his men and machines in Srinagar and would be required to come back to New Delhi for a review medical board which will decide on his fitness for flying fighter planes,” sources said.

The Wing Commander was held captive by Pakistan Army on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down on the wrong side of the Line of Control. He was subsequently attacked by a crowd after he landed in a village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but was rescued by the Pakistan Armed forces. Abhinandan was released on March 1 after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on February 28 announced to release him as a “gesture of peace.”