Stranded British F-35B Jet in Kerala to Undergo On-Site Repairs as UK Sends Engineer Team

A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning jet, stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14, will undergo on-site repairs after developing a technical snag during an emergency landing.

A 40-member team of aviation engineers is scheduled to arrive from the UK on July 5 to carry out the work, according to a PTI report.

The $110 million fifth-generation fighter jet had taken off from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, currently stationed near the Singapore Strait, for a routine exercise before it was forced to land in Kerala due to adverse weather and low fuel.

Sources said the jet might need to be dismantled for return or airlifted using a C-17 Globemaster if it cannot be restored to flying condition. A six-member Royal Navy security team from the HMS Prince of Wales is currently guarding the jet at the airport.

Initially, the UK repair team was expected to arrive on July 2, but their visit was delayed for unspecified reasons.

The Indian Air Force confirmed its role in supporting the aircraft’s emergency recovery and repairs. “A Royal Navy F-35B fighter was recovered following an emergency landing… The IAF is providing all necessary support,” it posted on X.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, the F-35B is a supersonic stealth fighter equipped with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, making it suitable for deployment from aircraft carriers and compact runways.

The incident came shortly after the HMS Prince of Wales conducted joint exercises with the Indian Navy earlier in June.