Watch: Abhinandan’s parents get standing ovation from passengers

March 1: There are certain incidents which goes down the annals in history as moments to be cherished for long years to come, moments to take pride in a nation to which one belongs and moments which bequeaths to posterity the lesson of honouring parents who gives birth to real-life heroes. Such a rare but precious moment was when Air Marshal (retd) S Varthaman and Dr Shobha Varthaman were given a standing ovation as passengers made way for them in the early hours of Friday, ensuring that they couple gets off first.

On Friday, hours after Pakistan announced the release of captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, his parents took a late flight from Chennai to Delhi. As Air Marshal S Varthaman and Shobha Varthaman made their way through the plane to their seats, the passengers cheered, clapped and took photos of them because their son ‘Abhi’ has won the love and respect of the nation with his courage and grace in enemy captivity.

In photos and videos shared by passengers on social media platforms, the couple, who came to Delhi on their way to Amritsar to bring their son home, can can be seen acknowledging the clapping, cheers and thank yous with nods of their heads. The plane in which the Varthamans’ were travelling landed at the Delhi airport about an hour after midnight. The couple left for Amritsar soon after landing in Delhi. They were all set to receive their son most likely at the Wagah border. Abhinandan’s family has served the Indian Air Force for generations, since the second World War.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan Army after his fighter jet crashed in an air duel with a Pakistani F-16. He shot down the plane before his own went down, forcing him to eject. He fell into Pakistani territory. On Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Abhinandan Varthaman.

Soon after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the pilot’s release as a “peace gesture”, India had asked for permission to send a special IAF flight to bring back the captured IAF pilot from Islamabad, but Pakistan had rejected the request. The country communicated to India late on Thursday night that he would be handed over through the Wagah-Attari border. Abhinandan was finally released by Pakistan after much delay aound 9.10 PM on Friday.