Highlights
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force will be recommending Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's name for the wartime gallantry medal Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet in an aerial conflict in February, according to news agency ANI.
Along with the wing commander, the 12 Mirage 2000 pilots, who took part in the surgical strikes in Pakistan's Balakot, will also be recommended for the Vayu Sena Medal, the government sources were quoted as saying by the news agency.
Meanwhile, amid concerns over his security, Air Force has posted out Varthaman from Srinagar to another important air base in the western sector along the Pakistan border.
"The posting order of the officer has been issued and he would soon be moving out of the Srinagar air base to his new place of posting," government sources said.
The new posting (name of the airbase being withheld due to security reasons) is also a fighter base and if the officer is cleared for flying, he would be able to continue his flying duties, the sources said.
Wing Commander Abhinandan has the unique distinction of being the only pilot in the world to have shot down an F-16 combat aircraft from his vintage MiG-21 Bison aircraft on February 27 during aerial conflict with Pakistan.
There were concerns over his security in Srinagar due to the presence of Pakistan-backed terrorist groups in the Kashmir valley.
Earlier this week, Abhinandan underwent medical tests at a Delhi-based facility for becoming eligible to fly the MiG-21s again.
Abhinandan has flown different types of fighter aircraft in the Air Force including the mighty Su-30MKI.
Along with the wing commander, the 12 Mirage 2000 pilots, who took part in the surgical strikes in Pakistan's Balakot, will also be recommended for the Vayu Sena Medal, the government sources were quoted as saying by the news agency.
Meanwhile, amid concerns over his security, Air Force has posted out Varthaman from Srinagar to another important air base in the western sector along the Pakistan border.
"The posting order of the officer has been issued and he would soon be moving out of the Srinagar air base to his new place of posting," government sources said.
The new posting (name of the airbase being withheld due to security reasons) is also a fighter base and if the officer is cleared for flying, he would be able to continue his flying duties, the sources said.
Wing Commander Abhinandan has the unique distinction of being the only pilot in the world to have shot down an F-16 combat aircraft from his vintage MiG-21 Bison aircraft on February 27 during aerial conflict with Pakistan.
There were concerns over his security in Srinagar due to the presence of Pakistan-backed terrorist groups in the Kashmir valley.
Earlier this week, Abhinandan underwent medical tests at a Delhi-based facility for becoming eligible to fly the MiG-21s again.
Abhinandan has flown different types of fighter aircraft in the Air Force including the mighty Su-30MKI.
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