Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the Indian Air Force fighter pilot, who shot down Pakistan's F-16 combat jet during dogfight on February 27 flew with Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. They flew a MiG 21 trainer sortie from Pathankot. It was a 30-minute sortie. Abhinandan, who has been cleared for the fighter sorties, has been flying the MiG at the Rajasthan fighter base. Recently, the Modi government had confirmed that the Vir Chakra will be awarded to the IAF pilot.