Varthaman became a household name in India after he was captured in 2019 during the Balakot air strikes. Born in Chennai in 1983, he studied at Sainik School before enrolling in the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla.
In 2004, Varthaman graduated from the combat stream of the IAF and was commissioned as a Flying Officer. After years of training, he was moved to the MiG-21 squadron. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in 2006, Squadron Leader in 2010 and Wing Commander in 2017.
Varthaman was one of the key figures involved in the Balakot airstrikes, which were India's response to the Pulwama attack of 2019.
A day after the airstrikes, Varthaman was involved in a dogfight in which he scripted history by downing an F-16 fighter jet. Seconds after his MiG-21 Bison was hit by a missile, he was forced to eject.
Before the aircraft was shot down, the MiG-21 Bison's radio and radars were jammed. After ejecting from the aircraft, Varthaman landed in the village of Horran in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, around seven kilometres from the Line of Control.
After he bailed out of the aircraft, Varthaman was captured by Pakistani forces and held captive for almost 60 hours.
The IAF pilot was returned to India on March 1, 2019, through the Wagah Border in Punjab. He underwent a medical checkup after his release, during which officials confirmed multiple bruises and a fractured rib.
Varthaman said he was not subjected to physical torture by Pakistani authorities but experienced mental harassment.
For his service, Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award.
His departure from the IAF earlier this year marks a new phase in the career of the officer whose 2019 capture and return to India made him one of the country's most recognisable military figures.
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