Stranded F-35 fighter jet likely to be dismantled, airlifted from Kerala to UK
text_fields
The British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on June 14, will likely be partially disassembled and flown back to the UK aboard a military cargo aircraft, according to India Today.
Despite several repair attempts on-site, the fifth-generation stealth jet remains grounded due to an unresolved technical issue. Sources cited in the report stated that all efforts to make the jet airworthy again have failed so far.
The report also mentioned that, although about 30 engineers from the UK were expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out the necessary repairs, no British engineering team has landed in India yet, TNIE reported.
With no definitive timeline for resolving the technical issue, British officials are reportedly exploring alternative ways to retrieve the F-35B fighter jet. According to India Today, the most practical option under consideration is to partially dismantle the aircraft so it can be transported back to the UK aboard a military cargo plane.
The jet, which was operating as part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, had been conducting missions roughly 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast when it was forced to divert to Thiruvananthapuram due to adverse weather and low fuel. The Indian Air Force assisted with the emergency landing and provided immediate logistical support.
However, a serious hydraulic failure was discovered during pre-departure checks before the jet could return to its carrier. This issue is critical, as it poses a risk to the aircraft’s ability to safely take off or land.
A small Royal Navy team, including three technicians, attempted to repair the fault but were unable to resolve it due to its complexity.
The aircraft is currently parked at Bay 4 of Thiruvananthapuram airport and remains under the watch of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Initially, the Royal Navy declined an offer from Air India to shelter the jet in a hangar with Kerala’s ongoing monsoon rains, but later accepted the proposal and moved the jet under cover.
