Bengaluru, April 20: Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who returned home in March after a 60-hour captivity in Pakistan, is likely to resume duty and fly fighter planes again. Reports inform that there are high chances of Varthaman returning to a fighter cockpit soon but only after the final clearance by the Bengaluru-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM). According to a report by Hindustan Times, two IAF officials familiar with the development on condition of anonymity said a decision in this regard will be taken after the 35-year-old IAF pilot passes a series of tests that he has to undergo in the coming weeks. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Remains in High Spirit Despite Mental Harassment in Pakistan.

Wing Commander Varthaman had shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft on February 27 during an aerial engagement with Pakistan Air Force. His plane was also hit and the IAF pilot landed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. He returned to India on March 1, two days after being in captivity in Pakistan.

On March 1, the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah JCP between India and Pakistan was cancelled by the Border Security Force (BSF) owing to security concerns linked to the pilot's return. Varthaman was held captive in Pakistan for over 60 hours before his ordeal came to an end after several hours of uncertainty. Abhinandan Returns From Pakistan Via Attari Wagah Border; India Celebrates; See Pic & Video.

After he returned to India, he was taken for a detailed medical check-up as a check-up is mandated particularly because the officer had to eject from an aeroplane which would have put his entire body under great stress.

The IAF pilot went on leave around 12 days ago after security agencies completed a nearly two-week debriefing after his return from Pakistan.  He chose to go to Srinagar where his squadron is based instead of being in his family home in Chennai. After his four-week sick leave period, a medical board was to review his fitness to help the IAF top brass decide whether he can return to fighter cockpit as desired by him.

India had retaliated on February 26 through a deep strike by IAF Mirage fighter jets at JeM terror facilities in Balakot and two other places. The airstrike by India came in wake of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack which left 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers dead.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2019 03:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).