A 25-member team of aviation engineers from the United Kingdom is expected to land in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to inspect the stranded F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet of the British Royal Navy.
The aircraft has been grounded at the city’s international airport since June 14 following an emergency landing prompted by adverse weather conditions and critically low fuel.
Sources revealed that multiple repair attempts by a smaller Royal Navy team failed to resolve a hydraulic issue that prevented the jet from taking off again. The visiting experts will now assess whether the aircraft can be repaired locally or needs to be dismantled and transported back to the UK.
The F-35B—part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group—was conducting operations 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast when poor visibility and fuel constraints forced a diversion to Thiruvananthapuram. Although Indian authorities, including the Indian Air Force, extended logistical and refuelling support, a subsequent pre-departure inspection revealed a serious hydraulic fault.
Initially, the jet remained parked on the tarmac under CISF protection as the British Navy declined to move it indoors despite persistent monsoon showers. However, the aircraft was eventually moved into a hangar to avoid further weather-induced complications.
India had earlier offered access to nearby maintenance and repair facilities, signalling its willingness to assist. The British response and the outcome of this technical review will be closely watched as the F-35’s extended stay in India continues to attract public interest—and even social media humour.
