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    "headline": "Fighter Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Quits IAF to Join Fly91",
    "dek": "Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, known for shooting down an F-16, has resigned from the Indian Air Force to join private carrier Fly91.",
    "prose": "Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman resigned from the Indian Air Force on March 31 to join the private airline Fly91. [^1]\n\nAbhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet using an R-73 air-to-air missile while flying a Soviet-era MiG-21 Bison on February 27, 2019. [^2]\n\nAbhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control on February 27, 2019. [^3]\n\nAbhinandan Varthaman was captured after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison but was returned to India by Pakistan on March 1, 2019, after being held captive for almost 60 hours. [^4]\n\nOfficials aware of the matter confirmed the resignation and the pilot's subsequent joining of Fly91 on Wednesday. [^5]\n\nThe Indian government honoured Abhinandan Varthaman with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award. [^6]\n\nVarthaman was captured by Pakistani military forces after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison and landing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. [^7]",
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      "statement": "Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman resigned from the Indian Air Force on March 31 to join the private airline Fly91.",
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      "statement": "Abhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet using an R-73 air-to-air missile while flying a Soviet-era MiG-21 Bison on February 27, 2019.",
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      "statement": "Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control on February 27, 2019.",
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      "statement": "Abhinandan Varthaman was captured after ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison but was returned to India by Pakistan on March 1, 2019, after being held captive for almost 60 hours.",
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      "statement": "Officials aware of the matter confirmed the resignation and the pilot's subsequent joining of Fly91 on Wednesday.",
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