A UK F-35B stealth fighter aircraft that had been stuck at Kerala state’s Thiruvananthapuram airport for over five weeks is finally going to take flight. The aircraft had made an unscheduled landing in early June when it was hit by bad weather and a technical glitch on a routine flight over the Indian Ocean.
Following multiple repair attempts by Royal Navy flagship carrier HMS Prince of Wales’ engineers that failed, the UK Ministry of Defence sent in a 14-person specialist team. The specialist team managed to bring the aircraft back into flying condition. Airport officials confirmed on Monday that the fighter plane is now airworthy and set to leave on Tuesday.
Emergency Landing Following Bad Weather and Glitch
The F-35B was on a routine mission above the Indian Ocean when it hit water-turbulent weather about 100 nautical miles from India’s coastline.
Being unable to return to HMS Prince of Wales, the pilot asked for emergency clearance for landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
The plane landed successfully, but a technical fault left it grounded forthwith. What had initially promised to be a brief halt became a five-week hiatus.
Royal Navy Engineers Can’t Fix It
To start, the Royal Navy’s flagship carrier’s engineers attempted to fix the jet. They couldn’t find a full solution. This created panic in both the military and aviation communities. Many were wondering how one of the world’s most advanced planes ended up stuck in a foreign nation for so long.
The UK Ministry of Defence soon intervened. It sent 14 senior technicians along with specialized equipment to inspect and fix the jet. The team was said to have operated in cooperation with Indian aviation officials and airport management.
Airworthy Again After Weeks on the Tarmac
Airport officials said on Monday that the F-35B is back airworthy. They added that the aircraft would be removed from the hangar, and the final departure will take place on Tuesday. But the precise time of takeoff still awaited confirmation.
The event had also given rise to speculation. Experts cautioned that if the plane could not be repaired locally, the UK might have to disassemble it and bring it home on a C-17 Globemaster transport plane.
Scenic Jokes and Memes Surrounding the Stranded Jet
Though the issue was serious, the incident captured public imagination. Photos of the advanced F-35B standing on the tarmac in Kerala went viral. Social media platforms were flooded with memes.
Most people joked that the fighter jet did not want to leave “God’s own country,” the affectionate tag given to Kerala.
Everything About the F-35B
The F-35B Lightning II, constructed by Lockheed Martin, is a cutting-edge stealth aircraft in the world. It is well known for its ability to take off and land vertically. The jet features prominently in the frontline defence forces of the UK, particularly on naval carriers.
Now that the jet is airworthy once again, its return signals the end of a unique and unusual chapter in the history of military aviation—a chapter that involved diplomacy, logistics, and a dash of humour.
