Stranded British F-35 jet in Kerala fixed, awaits clearance to take off

Thiruvananthapuram: A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which has been stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14 due to a technical snag, is finally ready to take off after a team of aviation engineers from the UK and the US successfully repaired it.

The fifth-generation stealth aircraft, renowned for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, was part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group and was returning from joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Kerala’s capital due to hydraulic system failure.

Initial attempts to fix the malfunction were unsuccessful, prompting the British Royal Navy to deploy a specialised 14-member team of engineers from Lockheed Martin — the jet's US-based manufacturer — and the UK earlier this month.

After their arrival, the engineering team’s first task was to shift the stranded aircraft from an exposed area near the airport terminal into a secured hangar. To protect the cutting-edge fighter jet from public view and maintain optimal working conditions, the hangar was cordoned off and enclosed with air conditioning to facilitate precision repairs.

With the hydraulic issue now fully resolved, the jet is awaiting clearance from the British Royal Navy before it can be airborne again. Officials said it is expected to fly out in the coming days once authorisation is granted.

The presence of the high-tech fighter jet on the airport premises had sparked public curiosity and became a trending topic on social media, spawning memes and light-hearted commentary. The state’s tourism department even joined in the buzz with a humorous post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Kerala, the destination you will never want to leave. Thank you, The Fauxy." The post featured a spoof "review" supposedly from the jet itself: "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend."

With IANS inputs