Stranded British F-35 fighter jet in Kerala likely to be dismantled and airlifted back to UK: Report
The report said that despite multiple attempts to repair the fifth-generation stealth jet on site, the aircraft remains grounded due to an unresolved technical fault. Sources cited by India Today indicated that all efforts to restore the jet's flight readiness have so far been unsuccessful.
The report also noted that no engineering team from the United Kingdom has arrived in India yet, although around 30 engineers were expected to land in Thiruvananthapuram to conduct the necessary repairs.
With no clear timeline for resolving the issue, British officials are now considering alternative plans to retrieve the aircraft. According to the report, partial dismantling of the jet has emerged as the most practical solution to enable its return by military transport.
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Stranded F-35 jet in Kerala may be dismantled, airlifted to UK soon: Report
The British Royal Navy's advanced F-35 fighter jet, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, is likely to be partially dismantled and transported back to the United Kingdom by a military cargo aircraft, India Today reported. Despite multiple on-site repair attempts, the fifth-generation stealth aircraft remained non-operational due to an unresolved engineering fault. Plans to bring in a dedicated support team from the UK have also been delayed. Although a group of 30 engineers was expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram to assess and repair the jet, they have yet to reach India, the news report said. With no timeline in sight for restoring the aircraft's flying capability, British authorities are now exploring alternatives. Dismantling the jet and transporting it aboard a military transport plane is emerging as the most feasible solution, the news report said. Forced landing due to bad weather The F-35 Lightning II, a US-made stealth fighter used by the Royal Navy, was compelled to land in Kerala after encountering 'adverse weather conditions'. The aircraft, which was based on the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, failed to return to the vessel during a sortie and diverted to the nearest suitable airfield. The emergency landing was conducted as part of 'diversion contingency plans between the British and Indian armed forces for Operation Highmast', the UK's ongoing Indo-Pacific deployment. Prior to the incident, the HMS Prince of Wales had taken part in a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea from June 9-10. The exercise was part of the UK Carrier Strike Group's eight-month-long Operation Highmast mission in the Indo-Pacific region, led by the Royal Navy warship. F-35 repair attempts and hangar shift Following the emergency landing, a small Royal Navy contingent, including three technicians, attempted to fix the fault. However, the complexity of the issue prevented a successful repair. The aircraft has since remained parked at Bay 4 of Thiruvananthapuram airport, guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the news report said. Initially, the Royal Navy turned down an offer from Air India to move the jet into a hangar, despite ongoing monsoon conditions. However, it later agreed to shift the aircraft to a sheltered area for protection.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Stranded British F-35 fighter jet in Kerala likely to be dismantled and airlifted back to UK: Report
The British Royal Navy's F-35B fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on June 14, is likely to be partially dismantled and transported back to the United Kingdom in a military cargo aircraft, according to a report by India Today. The report said that despite multiple attempts to repair the fifth-generation stealth jet on site, the aircraft remains grounded due to an unresolved technical fault. Sources cited by India Today indicated that all efforts to restore the jet's flight readiness have so far been unsuccessful. The report also noted that no engineering team from the United Kingdom has arrived in India yet, although around 30 engineers were expected to land in Thiruvananthapuram to conduct the necessary repairs. With no clear timeline for resolving the issue, British officials are now considering alternative plans to retrieve the aircraft. According to the report, partial dismantling of the jet has emerged as the most practical solution to enable its return by military transport.
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
UK can't fix F-35 stuck in Kerala, may dismantle to transport it back: Sources
The British Royal Navy's F-35 fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, is likely to be partially dismantled and airlifted back to the United Kingdom in a military cargo aircraft, sources multiple attempts to repair the aircraft on site, the fifth-generation stealth jet has remained grounded due to an unresolved engineering malfunction. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that efforts to restore flight readiness have so far been to the delay, no engineering team from the United Kingdom has arrived in India yet. A group of thirty engineers was expected to reach Thiruvananthapuram to undertake repairs, but they have not landed in the country so far, sources said. With no timeline for the aircraft's recovery, British officials are now working on alternative plans to retrieve the jet. Partial dismantling has emerged as the most viable option to enable its return by military F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was conducting operations 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala when adverse weather and low fuel forced an emergency diversion to Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian Air Force facilitated the safe landing and provided refuelling and logistical when the fighter jet was preparing to return to its carrier, a hydraulic failure was detected during pre-departure checks. The issue is considered serious as it could affect the jet's ability to take off and land safely. A small Royal Navy team, including three technicians, attempted to repair the malfunction but was unsuccessful due to the complexity of the aircraft has been parked at Bay 4 of the airport under the protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Initially, the Royal Navy declined an offer from Air India to move the jet into a hangar, despite the monsoon rains in Kerala. Later, the British Navy agreed to move the jet into a hangar.- Ends
