F-35 stranded in Kerala: UK technicians arrive to repair stranded fighter jet; grounded since June 14
NEW DELHI: A team of UK aviation engineers arrived in Kerala on Sunday aboard a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M to begin repair work on a British F-35B Lightning fighter jet that has remained stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14 following an emergency landing.
According to PTI, the British High Commission said the aircraft, part of the UK Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, developed an 'engineering issue' that forced the unscheduled landing. The jet, worth over $110 million, is now set to be moved to the airport's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
'The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,' a British High Commission spokesperson said.
Officials confirmed that the jet could not return to the carrier due to rough sea conditions. A preliminary assessment by engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales concluded that repairs required specialised UK-based personnel and tools.
The F-35B is the world's only fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of short take-off and vertical landing, designed for operations from smaller carriers and austere airfields.
Security around the aircraft remains tight. An armed Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detachment continues to guard the jet, parked at Bay 4 of the airport. Thiruvananthapuram airport officials have coordinated with local agencies to provide logistical support, including meals and accommodation for the visiting technical crew.
Contrary to social media reports, the pilot was not stationed beside the aircraft post-landing but was relocated to the terminal's Emergency Medical Centre along with technicians for rest, according to sources.
The Indian Air Force had earlier said it was providing all necessary assistance for the "rectification and subsequent return" of the jet. Thiruvananthapuram is a designated emergency diversion site for British military aircraft operating in the region.
The British High Commission said the aircraft would resume service after all necessary repairs and safety checks. "Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram international airport for their continued support," the spokesperson added.
The HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group had participated in joint exercises with the Indian Navy earlier this month.
(Inputs from PTI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Dying Yamuna symbolises India's apathy to rivers
The pollution has killed most of the fish. Desperate fishermen, mostly migrants, still cast their nets for whatever little they can catch. The vegetables grown on its floodplains and sold in local markets are laced with phosphates and surfactants that cause the foaming. Meanwhile, the deadline for the Yamuna cleaning mission, for which ₹8,500 crore has already been allocated, has been pushed back from 2023 to 2025, and then to 2026. The Delhi Jal Board has received at least ₹1,200 crore of public funds as of 2023; however, our reportage indicates that most of the 37 sewage treatment plants are still outdated or underperforming. India became one of the earliest cradles of civilisation because of its magnificent rivers—whether it's the Sindhu-Saraswati basin in the west, the Vaigai and Cauvery in the south, or the Ganga-Yamuna belt across the north. Yet, the sad truth is that we are choking them with administrative apathy, which matches our polluting public culture. The cleanup of the once-putrid Thames in England and Kamo in Kyoto happened after decades-long public campaigns. The much longer Indian rivers need responsible riparian development alongside continuous conservation. To understand the shameful gap between tall promises flowing from the thousands of crores spent in the name of cleaning them and the reality, one need not look farther than the one flowing by the national capital.
India.com
4 hours ago
- India.com
Dismantling a Beast: UK Wrestles with F-35B's Complexity on Foreign Soil in Kerala
UK's lethal F-35B fighter jet stranded in Kerala A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet, stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14, 2025, is now set to be dismantled and flown back to the United Kingdom. The jet, grounded by an unresolved hydraulic failure, cannot be repaired locally due to its complex systems and the absence of F-35 maintenance infrastructure in India. A C-17 Globemaster III military aircraft will likely transport the disassembled jet to the UK for restoration. Why the Jet Must Be Moved Efforts to fix the jet's critical hydraulic system in India proved unsuccessful. The F-35B's advanced design includes classified technologies like radar-absorbing coatings, encrypted software, and AI-based combat systems—requiring tools and expertise available only at select certified locations. India does not operate the F-35, and no repair base exists in the region. Beyond technical hurdles, national security concerns make it risky to leave the jet parked at a civilian airport. The aircraft is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, and its prolonged absence weakens the UK's operational readiness. Transporting it back is the only viable and secure option. UK Sends a Specialized Team On July 6, a Royal Air Force A400M Atlas brought in a 25–40 member team of engineers and Lockheed Martin-certified technicians to Thiruvananthapuram. The team brought specialized tools and a tow vehicle, starting with an inspection to assess whether repairs could be done on-site. Once confirmed unrepairable, the dismantling process began. Moving to a Safer Location Initially, the F-35B was parked in the open at Bay 4 of the airport under CISF security. The UK declined to move it to a hangar due to concerns over exposure of sensitive systems in a non-NATO country. However, with India's assurances and growing urgency, the jet was shifted to a secure Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility where the environment is controlled and access is tightly restricted. The Dismantling Process Removing the jet's wings, tail fins, and stabilizers is essential to fit it inside the C-17's cargo bay, which is 26 meters long but only about 4 meters wide. The F-35B has a wingspan of nearly 10.7 meters, making disassembly the only option. This process is far from simple. Every screw, bolt, and panel is security-coded and logged to prevent tampering or unauthorized access. Only Lockheed Martin-trained engineers are allowed to perform these tasks. The dismantled components are carefully packed to avoid damage to the stealth coatings or internal systems. The jet's fuselage is then compacted and prepared for loading as a single unit, taking care to protect the aircraft's sensitive sensors and onboard electronics. Airlift to the UK Once dismantled, the aircraft will be loaded onto a Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III—one of the few transport aircraft capable of handling such a load. Technicians will supervise the process to ensure that the jet's frame and sensitive systems remain intact. The aircraft will likely be flown to RAF Marham in the UK, where full-scale repair facilities for the F-35 are located. Once there, it will be reassembled and thoroughly tested before rejoining active service aboard HMS Prince of Wales . Security and Diplomatic Coordination Throughout the dismantling and transport operation, UK Royal Air Force personnel and naval officers are maintaining strict security. They are working in coordination with Indian CISF forces to prevent any technology leaks or unauthorized access. The UK government has also committed to settling all dues, including parking and hangar charges, with Indian authorities. The diplomatic coordination between the two nations has been smooth, despite early hesitation regarding the hangar shift. Challenges Faced The operation has not been without complications: Security Sensitivities : Concerns over espionage led to initial delays in moving the aircraft to a hangar. : Concerns over espionage led to initial delays in moving the aircraft to a hangar. Weather Conditions : Exposure to Kerala's heavy monsoon rains added further urgency and risk to the already delicate dismantling process. : Exposure to Kerala's heavy monsoon rains added further urgency and risk to the already delicate dismantling process. Public Curiosity: The jet's unexpected stay captured widespread attention, sparking social media memes and even a cheeky post from Kerala Tourism. Past Examples This is not the first time an F-35 has had to be dismantled. In 2019, the US Air Force removed the wings of an F-35A for transport from Florida to Utah. Similarly, in 2022, South Korea transported a belly-landed F-35A by road after removing its wings. These precedents show that such operations are technically feasible and already tested. Why On-Site Repairs Weren't Possible The hydraulic failure affecting this particular jet requires diagnostic equipment, spares, and expertise not available in India. As India doesn't operate any F-35s, it lacks the maintenance infrastructure needed for even minor repairs. Returning the jet to the UK is the only way to ensure it is properly restored and returned to duty. Conclusion The mission to dismantle and fly back the UK's F-35B from India is more than just a technical exercise—it is a symbol of careful international coordination, the importance of protecting advanced defense technologies, and the logistical precision required to handle one of the world's most advanced fighter jets. Once it takes to the skies again from British soil, the F-35B will carry with it a fascinating chapter from Kerala that blended diplomacy, engineering, and a touch of global intrigue. —— E.O.M ( Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@ )
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Best dogs given trophies in Madurai
Best performing dogs were awarded trophies during the two-day dog show event conducted by Madurai Canine Club at Tamukkam ground here on Sunday. S. Vinayaga Moorthy, Madurai Canine Club, show committee member, said that the two-day event had native dog breeds show, Great Dane dogs show and breed confirmation show. In the breed confirmation event, 306 dogs of 45 different breeds, both Indian and International breeds, took part. Judges from Thailand and New Zealand based on the International Standards determined by Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), selected the winning dogs, he added. 'The standards are based on various aspects like colour, size, body type, height, weight, etc., the dogs,' he noted. A German Shepard breed dog from Ooty won the first prize in the breed confirmation category.
