Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who carried Balakot strike, flies MiG-21 Bison at Hindon station on IAF Day

File Photo

New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of Indian Air Force who shot down a PAF F-16 during a dogfight on February 27 earlier this year, flew MiG-21 Bison aircraft over Air Force Day parade on Tuesday at Hindon Air Base.

Three Mirage 2000 aircraft and two Su-30MKI fighter aircraft also flew in 'Avenger formation'. The planes are being flown by pilots who took part in Balakot airstrike. Air Fighter Pilots, who took part in Balakot airstrikes, were included in the parade as a mark of tribute to the teams which carried out the strike on February 26 and thwarted the Pakistani aerial attack on February 27.

#WATCH Ghaziabad: Indian Air Force officers who participated in Balakot airstrike, fly 3 Mirage 2000 aircraft & 2 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in ‘Avenger formation’, at Hindon Air Base during the event on #AirForceDay today. pic.twitter.com/qV417aLNjr — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 2019

The dogfight on February 27 erupted after Pakistan Air Force tried to carry out an attack on Indian military installations which was thwarted by the IAF.  A day before, IAF had carried out aerial strikes at JeM Camp in Pakistan's Balakot. The IAF carried out the strikes days after a terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu Kashmir's Pulwama which claimed the lives of over 40 paramilitary personnel.

IAF is celebrating its 87th anniversary on Air Force Day at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad today. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria are present at the event.