New Delhi: Indian Air Force Ace Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been promoted to the rank of captain of the group.
Officers were involved in dog battles with Pakistani fighter planes and was awarded Chakra Shaurya because they recorded F-16 fighter aircraft during engagement.
The officer had been cleaned for promotion to the rank of the captain of the group by IAF and he will wear his new rank immediately, said the source to Ani.
The group captain is equivalent to the Colonel in the Indian Army.
The MiG-21 fighter aircraft Abhinandan was shot down after he lowered the F-16 and landed in Kashmir who was occupied by Pakistan (POK), where he was detained by the Pakistani army.
Pakistani soldiers were forced to release him because of the extensive pressure provided by India along with international intervention into this issue.
Abhinandan is part of the 51 Srinagar-based squadron and has flown to thwart air strikes launched by Pakistan on February 27, 2019.
India has launched an air strike at Pakistan terrorist facilities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area which is run by the Jaih-e-Mohammed.