Indian Air Force Recommends Vayu Sena Medal For Balakot Air Strike Pilots, Vir Chakra For WC Abhinandan

Indian Air Force is recommending the name of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman for the prestigious wartime gallantry medal Vir Chakra for shooting down an F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force and in recognition of the unprecedented valour he displayed after his Mig-21 Bison fighter jet was bombed and his parachute dragged him into Pakistan's territory.

Along with Abhinandan, the 12 braveheart pilots who flew Mirage 2000 fighter jets into Pakistan and carried out air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad run facilities are being recommended for the Vayu Sena Medal for their immense acts of bravery, reports NDTV.

Varthaman happens to be the only pilot in the world to have shot down a new-age F-16 aircraft with a vintage Mig-21 aircraft. Ever since he destroyed the Pakistan's F-16 plane and later returned back to India after being in Pakistan's custody for a brief while, he has become a household name in the country.

Vir Chakra that Varthaman is being recommended for is the third highest recognition of gallantry during the situations of war after the Param Vir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra.