By Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK
A cutting-edge British F-35B fighter jet that has been grounded at an Indian airport for over five weeks is finally expected to take off on Tuesday, according to officials.
An airport spokesperson in Thiruvananthapuram, located in the southern Indian state of Kerala, told the BBC that the aircraft would be “pulled back from the hangar today and the departure is scheduled for Tuesday”. However, he added, “We do not have any technical details.”
The jet, part of the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales fleet, was forced to land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on 14 June after encountering adverse weather conditions during a sortie over the Indian Ocean. Shortly after landing, the aircraft developed a technical fault, rendering it unable to take off again.
Its unexpected and extended presence on Indian soil sparked widespread public interest and online buzz, with many questioning how such a modern, state-of-the-art aircraft could remain inoperative in a foreign country for such a long period.
Initially, engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales were dispatched to the airport in an attempt to fix the issue. However, they were unable to resolve the fault. In response, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that a specialist team of 14 engineers had subsequently been deployed to Kerala two weeks ago, equipped with the necessary tools and components to repair and recover the aircraft.
Footage shared online showed the jet being towed into a hangar for servicing. Due to the extent of the malfunction, speculation arose that, should the jet remain unrepairable, it might need to be dismantled and transported back to the UK using a large cargo aircraft such as a C-17 Globemaster.
For the past several weeks, both the UK High Commission in India and British defence officials have declined to comment on the specifics of the repair operations. However, an airport official confirmed on Monday that the aircraft had been declared “airworthy” and preparations were underway for its departure.
While the precise departure time and route—including the refuelling stop on its way to London—remain unconfirmed, authorities said the fighter jet would be moved out of the hangar on Monday morning. There was also no immediate confirmation regarding which aircraft would transport the engineers and equipment back to the UK.
The F-35B, built by US defence giant Lockheed Martin, is among the world’s most advanced stealth fighters. It is particularly valued for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, making it suitable for deployment on aircraft carriers like the HMS Prince of Wales.
Images of the lone jet sitting idle in the rain on the Kerala tarmac sparked a wave of memes and jokes online. Many social media users humorously suggested the aircraft had no desire to leave the picturesque state of Kerala, known as “God’s Own Country” in Indian tourism promotions.
The saga of the grounded $110 million (£80 million) aircraft even made its way into discussions in the UK House of Commons, drawing attention to the logistical and diplomatic challenges of maintaining such sophisticated military hardware overseas.
