British F-35B Stealth Fighter Jet Finally Departs Kerala After Over a Month of Repairs

A British F-35B Lightning fighter jet, which had been grounded at Kerala’s international airport since June 14 due to a technical fault, finally took off on Tuesday morning after successful maintenance, airport sources confirmed.

The F-35B, one of the most advanced stealth jets in the world and part of the British Royal Navy’s air fleet, had made an emergency landing at the airport over a month ago. Since then, the aircraft had remained in a hangar as technical teams worked on repairing the fault.

On Monday, the jet was moved out of the hangar and positioned at the airport bay in preparation for departure. At 10:50 AM on Tuesday, it successfully took off, heading toward Darwin, Australia, officials said.

The F-35B Lightning, which costs over USD 110 million, is known for its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability, making it ideal for aircraft carrier operations. Its grounding in India had drawn significant attention due to the aircraft’s strategic importance and the rarity of such incidents involving a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

This marks the end of a 34-day stay in India, with the aircraft now safely continuing its journey as part of the Royal Navy’s global operations.