THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly two weeks after its emergency landing, a UK F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet remains grounded at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The British High Commission confirmed on Friday that the jet, which developed an engineering issue mid-flight, will be moved to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
The fifth-generation jet — part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group — was returning from joint exercises with the Indian Navy when it was forced to land on June 14 due to dangerously low fuel levels. Although initially expected to depart post-refuelling, a technical snag soon halted further operations.
A Royal Navy helicopter later flew in a British engineering crew and a replacement pilot. Despite several take-off attempts, the aircraft remained grounded.
Parked under heavy security at Bay 4 of the airport and exposed to Kerala’s intense monsoon rains, the jet’s condition has sparked concerns over weather-induced damage. British authorities, however, assured that all safety protocols are in place and that cooperation with Indian agencies remains seamless.
Lockheed Martin engineers are now expected to arrive with specialised tools to diagnose and resolve the issue. Once the aircraft is shifted to the hangar and undergoes repairs and safety checks, it will resume active service.
The incident highlights the vulnerability even of highly advanced military assets when faced with unforeseen mechanical failures.