Coimbatore, March 4: Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said on Monday that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman – who struck down Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet - will fly a fighter jet once he is declared medically fit to do so. The IAF chief informed this while addressing media in Coimbatore.

On being asked if Abhinandan would fly a jet again, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said, as reported by the Indian Express, “Whether he flies again or not depends on his medical fitness. That is why post-ejection, he has undergone a medical check. Thereafter, whatever treatment is required, we have given to him.” Adding more he said, “Once he gets his medical fitness, then only will he get into a fighter cockpit.” Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman To Be Awarded First Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar. 

Varthaman was released nearly 60 hours later by Pakistani authorities as a ‘gesture of peace’ after being captured by the Pakistani armed force on February 27 after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down as he chased Pakistan Air Force intruders. He returned to India via the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night and was escorted to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment.

Earlier, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met the Wing Commander at RR hospital in New Delhi on Saturday and was briefed about his stay in Pakistan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 04, 2019 07:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).