The “Fantastic Tea” Pilot Abhinandan Retires from IAF to Join Private Airline

Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down and captured during a 2019 aerial clash with Pakistan, has retired from military service to work as a commercial pilot for the regional airline FLY91.

Former Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman left the Indian Air Force after 22 years of service. He joined the Goa-based regional carrier FLY91 as a pilot in August, according to Indian reports.

FLY91 began commercial operations in March 2024 and currently flies a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft. Neither the pilot nor the airline has released official personal comments regarding the transition.

The 2019 Capture and Viral “Fantastic Tea” Moment

Following the February 2019 Pulwama bombing and subsequent Indian air strikes in Balakot, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes (Operation Swift Retort) across the Line of Control. During the resulting dogfight, Pakistan Air Force jets shot down Abhinandan’s MiG-21 fighter, capturing him after he ejected into Pakistani territory.

While in custody, Abhinandan appeared in a video praising the Pakistani military for treating him well, specifically calling out the captain who rescued him from a mob and describing the cup of tea he was given as “fantastic.”

Pakistan released him three days later on March 2, 2019, across the Wagah Border to help ease bilateral tensions.

Vir Chakra Honor and F-16 Controversy

Two years after the incident, India awarded Abhinandan the Vir Chakra (the country’s third-highest military honor) for his role in the battle.

India claimed he shot down a Pakistani F-16 before his plane went down, but Pakistan and international media outlets heavily debunked this claim. Neither Abhinandan nor the public claimed the kill. The Director General of ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor, said all missile seeker heads were recovered intact from his wreckage, proving no missiles were fired.

Furthermore, US defense officials confirmed that all of Pakistan’s F-16 jets were fully accounted for, according to Foreign Policy magazine.