Thiruvananthapuram: A team of 25 British aviation engineers is set to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to inspect a British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that has been stranded at the city’s airport for nearly three weeks following an emergency landing, according to a report by India Today.
The advanced fifth-generation stealth jet, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, had to make an emergency diversion on June 14 due to bad weather and low fuel while operating about 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The Indian Air Force (IAF) facilitated a safe landing and provided refueling and logistical support.
However, during pre-departure checks, a serious hydraulic fault was detected, grounding the aircraft. A small Royal Navy team, including three technicians, attempted to fix the issue but was unable to complete the repairs on-site due to the technical complexity.
Now, the larger UK engineering team will assess the damage and decide whether the jet can be repaired in India or must be dismantled and flown back to the UK aboard a military transport aircraft.
The F-35B, currently parked at Bay 4 of Thiruvananthapuram airport, remains under tight CISF security. Initially, the British Navy had declined Air India’s offer to move the aircraft into a hangar, despite the heavy monsoon rains, but later reversed the decision, and the fighter jet is now housed indoors.
India had earlier extended support by offering access to the nearest MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) facility, though no final decision on the repair location has yet been taken.
The British team’s visit is expected to determine the final course of action for the jet’s recovery and return to operational status.
