(Image source from: telegraphindia.com)

Hours after Pakistan Prime Minister announced that the Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman would be released on Friday, the Wing Commander's family of five flew out from Chennai to New Delhi on Thursday night.

The proud parents were cheered on with a standing ovation and a chorus of gratitude by fellow passengers in the flight.

Wing Commander #AbhinandanVartaman 's parents reached Delhi last night from Chennai. This was the scene inside the flight when the passengers realized his parents were onboard. They clapped for them, thanked them & made way for them to disembark first. #Respect #AbhinandanMyHero pic.twitter.com/P8USGzbgcp

— Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) March 1, 2019

Early on Friday morning, the family left from New Delhi to Amritsar and will be present along with Indian armed forces to meet the Wing Commander at Wagah Border.

According to official sources as cited by IANS the Border Security Force (BSF) had not been communicated the exact time and sequence regarding the release of the captured IAF pilot as of late on Thursday evening.

As per sources, the pilot is likely to be brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of the Geneva Convention before being brought to the JCP at around 3 p.m. to return home. Varthaman will be debriefed by defense and security officials after his return.

Throughout Thursday, many politicians and other well-wishers met the family at their Chennai residence.

Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor told the media on Thursday that the Indian Air Force is happy and looks forward to the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

When asked by a reporter on whether India looked at Wing Commander Abhinandan’s return as a goodwill gesture, Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said, “We are happy that our pilot, who had fallen across the Line of Control and was in custody of Pakistan, is being released, we're extremely happy to have him back. We only see it as a gesture which is in consonance with all Geneva conventions.”

-Sowmya Sanagam