At Last, British F-35B Fighter Jet Takes Off from Kerala after Extended Stay

A UK F-35B fighter jet that had been grounded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for over a month finally departed today, following extensive repairs carried out by a UK-based engineering team. The aircraft, part of the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group aboard HMS Prince of Wales, had made an unscheduled landing on June 14 after diverting due to adverse weather.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the British High Commission confirmed the jet’s departure and the successful completion of repairs:

“A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06, completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.”

“The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India,” the statement added.

Emergency Landing and Ground Snag

The fifth-generation stealth aircraft was forced to land in India after failing to return to HMS Prince of Wales due to deteriorating weather conditions and low fuel. While the initial emergency landing was successful, the jet developed a significant engineering fault while on the ground, reportedly due to a hydraulic issue affecting critical systems, including the landing gear, brakes, and flight control surfaces.

Though engineers from the carrier initially assessed the jet, the complexity of the fault led to the decision to dispatch a specialised UK engineering team along with equipment and spare parts. The team arrived on July 6 aboard an RAF Airbus A400M Atlas.

Cooperation and Logistics

India had offered the use of its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Thiruvananthapuram airport, which the UK accepted. To minimise disruption to regular flight operations, the decision was taken to move the aircraft only after the British engineering team and necessary equipment were in place.

The UK confirmed that all standard protocols for civilian airports were followed during the operation.

From Curiosity to Departure

During its extended stay, the F-35B, one of the most advanced and expensive fighter jets in the world, costing upwards of USD 115 million, became a subject of curiosity and pop culture. Images of the jet parked on the tarmac in the Kerala monsoon made the rounds on social media, spawning memes and even drawing a humorous campaign from Kerala Tourism thanking the Royal Navy for its “visit.”

Initially, there had been speculation that the aircraft might need to be disassembled and transported back to the UK via cargo aircraft, but on-ground repairs proved successful. After final safety and operational checks were completed, the jet was cleared to return to service.

Strategic Takeaways

The incident, although unusual, provided a glimpse into the operational complexity of fifth-generation aircraft and the logistical challenges associated with overseas deployments. It also underscored the growing depth of India-UK defence cooperation, particularly in logistics, repair support, and diplomatic coordination.

Huma Siddiqui