Subhechcha Ganguly 
Britain’s prized F-35B Lightning fighter jet, which has been stranded in Kerala for over three weeks following an emergency landing, remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A 40-member technical team from the UK is now expected to arrive on July 5 to assess and carry out repairs on the advanced aircraft, according to PTI.
The stealth fighter, part of Britain’s Royal Navy fleet, had landed on June 14 due to a combination of adverse weather and low fuel. The pilot declared an emergency while on a routine exercise mission after taking off from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which is currently stationed in the Singapore Strait. Indian Air Force (IAF) radars picked up the aircraft and assisted in its safe landing.
The F-35B, manufactured by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation, supersonic fighter equipped with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability, making it ideal for deployment on naval vessels. It is powered by the cutting-edge Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, capable of reaching speeds up to 1.6 Mach.
Currently, the $110-million jet is parked in a secure bay at the airport under the constant watch of a six-member Royal Navy team. Initially, the UK repair crew was set to arrive on July 2, but the trip was postponed for unspecified reasons. Now, the team is expected to fly into the Kerala capital aboard a special aircraft to begin onsite repairs.
There are two possibilities under consideration: either repairing the aircraft locally or dismantling and transporting it back to the UK using a specialized transport plane like the C-17 Globemaster. Sources suggest that a technical snag was detected while the jet was grounded after the emergency landing, complicating the situation further.
The Indian Air Force has reiterated its commitment to assist in the rectification and eventual return of the aircraft. “A Royal Navy F-35B fighter was recovered following an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of June 14. The IAF is providing all necessary support,” the force confirmed in a post on X.
The HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group had recently conducted joint exercises with the Indian Navy in early June, highlighting growing Indo-UK defense cooperation.
As of now, the world’s most advanced combat jet continues to sit idle in Kerala — a rare sight and a diplomatic curiosity for Indian defense aviation watchers.
