A British F-35B fighter jet, which was grounded in India for over a month after making an emergency landing, has now safely taken off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
A spokesperson for the British High Commission confirmed the aircraft’s departure in an official statement on Tuesday. They said, “A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.”
The UK also expressed appreciation to India for helping during the process. “The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process,” the spokesperson added.
They further said, “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India.”
Emergency Landing in June
The British Navy’s F-35B was on a regular mission from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales when it developed a technical issue and could not return to the ship due to bad weather. The pilot decided to land at Thiruvananthapuram airport, which was already listed as an emergency landing option. The Indian Air Force supported the emergency landing and also helped with refuelling.
While on the ground, the aircraft developed a hydraulic fault, making it unfit to fly. Engineers on board HMS Prince of Wales checked it, but they concluded that a specialised UK engineering team with advanced tools was needed to fix the problem. That team arrived on July 6 and worked at the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility offered by India.
To avoid disturbing airport operations, the repair work was carefully planned. The aircraft stayed grounded for over a month until repairs and safety checks were complete.
About the Aircraft
The F-35B, made by Lockheed Martin, is a highly advanced stealth fighter jet. It is known for its ability to take off from short runways and land vertically. The jet is an important part of the British Navy’s defence fleet.
