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.
He was awarded a medal by the Indian government for shooting down of a PAF F-16 with his MiG-21 Bison.

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. Pakistan decided on 28 February 2019 to release him. He returned to India at Wagah on 1 March 2019. Varthaman was conferred the Vir Chakra gallantry award in August 2019. He is also known for his distinctive style of moustache. Abhinandan was born in a Tamil Jain family on 21 June 1983.[9] Abhinandan’s family is from Thirupanamoor, a village about 19 km (12 miles) from Kanchipuram.[10] His father is a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal (OF-8) and his mother is a doctor.[11][12]

Abhinandan was educated at Sainik School, Amaravathinagar. He graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the combat (fighter) stream of the IAF as a flying officer on 19 June 2004. He was trained at the IAF centres in Bathinda and Halwara, promoted to flight lieutenant on 19 June 2006, and to squadron leader on 8 July 2010. Abhinandan was a Su-30 MKI fighter pilot before being assigned to the MiG-21 Bison squadron.[16] He was promoted to wing commander on 19 June 2017. On 27 February 2019, Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 as a part of a sortie that was scrambled to intercept an intrusion into Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani aircraft. In the dogfight that ensued, he crossed into Pakistan territory and his aircraft was struck by a missile. Varthaman ejected and safely descended into the village of Horran in Pakistan administered Kashmir, approximately 7 km (4.3 miles) from the Line of Control.[19][20]

Local villagers said Varthaman could be identified as an Indian pilot by the Indian flag on his parachute.[19] Upon landing, Varthaman asked the villagers whether he was in India, to which a young boy said yes.[19] Varthaman reportedly said pro-India slogans, to which the locals responded with pro-Pakistan slogans. Varthaman began to run while firing warning shots. He ran for approximately 500 m (1,600 ft) to a small pond, where he attempted to sink and swallow some of his documents. The villagers captured and manhandled Varthaman before he was rescued by the Pakistan Army.