Indian Air Force’s Apache Induction Ceremony: Wing Commander Abhinandan To Fly With Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa

The Apache induction ceremony next month may see Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flying with Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa. The ceremony is set to take place on 3 September, reports News Nation.

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.