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Swarajya Staff
Sep 02, 2019, 02:46 PM | Updated 02:46 PM IST
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Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman today flew a sortie in a MiG-21 fighter aircraft in Pathankot, Punjab, reports ANI.
Here is a video of the flight.
#WATCH IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa flew a sortie with Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman at Air Force Station Pathankot today in a MiG-21 trainer. It's the last sortie flown by IAF Chief in a fighter aircraft before retirement.They took off around 1130 hrs for a 30 min sortie. pic.twitter.com/retSoI3EVl
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2019
Dhanoa and Varthaman flew in the trainer version of the MiG-21 Type 69 fighter Aircraft. This was also the last sortie of the IAF Chief in a combat aircraft.
#WATCH Pathankot: IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman moving towards the MiG-21 before their sortie earlier today. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/Rz9KJVJVWi
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2019
Wing Commander Abhinandan has already started flying MiG-21 Bison after being cleared for the fighter sorties. He shot into fame after shooting down a Pakistani F-16 combat jet during dogfight on 27 February in the aftermath of Balakot airstrike.
Recently, the PM Modi-led government confirmed that the Vir Chakra will be awarded to him, while other pilots who were part of the airstrike will also get top military honours.
The Balakot strike came in response to the 14 February Pulwama terror attack, in which a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into a bus carrying CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, killing 40 personnel.