F-35 Fighter Jet to Finally Leave Kerala After Emergency Landing and Month-Long Delay

The Royal Navy’s F-35B Lightning II, the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, is finally expected to fly out of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Tuesday, over a month after it made an emergency landing in Kerala on June 14 due to technical issues.

The F-35B, part of the United Kingdom’s elite fifth-generation combat aircraft fleet, had been en route to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales when it faced severe weather and a critical fuel shortage. The pilot issued an emergency SQUAWK 7700 signal, prompting the Indian Air Force to guide the jet to Bay 4 of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, a zone usually reserved for VIP aircraft. The IAF later confirmed that the jet’s emergency landing was due to fuel exhaustion, after several failed attempts to land at sea.

Since that day, the fighter jet has remained grounded due to a suspected hydraulic system failure. A small technical team from the Royal Navy arrived soon after the incident, but could not fix the issue, prompting a second, larger technical team of 40 specialists from the United Kingdom and the United States to take over the repair efforts.

According to airport officials, the repairs have now been completed, and preparations are underway to move the jet out of the hangar. “It is being brought to our bay and will fly back on Tuesday,” a source told PTI, although the exact departure time is still unconfirmed.

Heavy Costs for Parking and Stay

Officials confirmed that the UK government will have to pay airport parking charges for the fighter jet’s extended stay. These include landing charges, daily parking rent, and other fees. However, as the aircraft is military and foreign-owned, the final billing may be handled through central government agencies. A senior official told The Times of India that special considerations are likely given the unique nature of the situation.

Dismantling Option Considered

At one point, engineers reportedly considered dismantling the aircraft and flying it back to the UK in parts using a Boeing C-17 Globemaster. That plan, however, appears to have been shelved after successful repair efforts.

As of now, all eyes are on Tuesday, when the jet is finally expected to lift off from Indian soil, bringing an end to a rare and high-profile military aviation incident in Kerala.