Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (Vir Chakra)
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (Vir Chakra) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman VrC is an Indian Air Force fighter pilot who, during the 2019 India–Pakistan standoff, was held captive in Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial dogfight. Pakistan released videos and images showing Varthaman being rescued from a violent mob of villagers by its soldiers, receiving first aid and being questioned while blindfolded. Despite a legal attempt to thwart it, Pakistan decided on 28 February 2019 to release him as a "gesture of peace" and he returned to India at Wagah on 1 March 2019. Varthaman was conferred the Vir Chakra gallantry award in August 2019.His distinctive style of moustache later became popular in India. MiG-21 Bison On 27 February 2019, Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 Bison as a part of a sortie that was scrambled to intercept an intrusion into Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani aircraft. In the