A British F-35B fighter jet has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala, India, for more than three weeks after an emergency landing on 14 June due to bad weather during a sortie over the Indian Ocean. The jet later developed a technical fault, preventing its return to the HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier.
Despite initial efforts by engineers aboard the Prince of Wales, the fault could not be resolved. Now, a 14-member team of British specialists, equipped with advanced tools, has arrived in Kerala to carry out necessary repairs. The British High Commission confirmed the team’s deployment, noting they brought “specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process.”
Footage shared by ANI and PTI showed a Royal Air Force Airbus landing at Thiruvananthapuram to transport the engineers. The jet has since been moved to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, under round-the-clock guard by six RAF personnel.
The F-35B, valued at $110 million (£80 million), is a cutting-edge stealth jet developed by Lockheed Martin, known for its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities.
The aircraft’s extended stay in India has triggered widespread public interest, online jokes, and memes—many humorously claiming the jet doesn’t want to leave the lush, scenic surroundings of Kerala, often referred to as “God’s own country.”
The issue has also caught the attention of the UK Parliament, where it has been raised in the House of Commons. If engineers fail to restore the jet’s airworthiness, experts say it may need to be dismantled and transported aboard a large cargo plane, such as a C-17 Globemaster.
