Thiruvananthapuram: A specialist team from the British Royal Navy is en route to Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to inspect and repair the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet, which has been stranded on the tarmac for over a week following an emergency landing on June 14.
The fifth-generation jet, part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group currently deployed in the Indo-Pacific, was forced to land after reporting critically low fuel levels while returning from joint naval exercises with the Indian Navy.
Although the aircraft was refuelled shortly after landing, a technical fault was identified, grounding the high-tech combat jet. An earlier team of Royal Navy engineers and a replacement pilot failed to resolve the issue despite multiple attempts to get the jet airborne.
Now, a larger contingent of over 30 Royal Navy personnel is expected to arrive with spare parts and diagnostic equipment to carry out a thorough inspection and assess whether the aircraft needs to be moved into a hangar for detailed repairs. However, final travel logistics are still being coordinated.
Notably, Air India had offered hangar space, but the Royal Navy declined—reportedly due to concerns over exposing the jet’s classified stealth and avionics technologies.
The F-35B, known for its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, is a frontline stealth platform developed by Lockheed Martin, designed for carrier-based operations. The ongoing mechanical failure has puzzled British officials, given the aircraft’s reputation for cutting-edge engineering and combat readiness.
The incident has drawn international attention, highlighting both the complexity and sensitivity involved in handling next-generation military hardware on foreign soil.
