The cost of parking a fighter jet in Kerala: Here's how much the UK may have to pay for grounded F-35B
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A British F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet , which was grounded at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14 due to a hydraulic system fault, is now expected to take off on July 22. But before that, the UK may have to settle a hefty parking bill for keeping the jet stationed on Indian soil for over 35 days.The fifth-generation fighter, part of the UK Royal Navy's fleet aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, made an emergency landing at the civilian airport after developing a snag mid-sortie about 100 nautical miles off Kerala's coast. The jet, facing low fuel and poor weather, was granted permission to land at Thiruvananthapuram, which is designated as an emergency recovery airfield.The Indian Air Force assisted with refuelling, while the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) ensured round-the-clock security for the aircraft. Initially parked on the tarmac and exposed to Kerala's heavy monsoon rains, the F-35B became the subject of lighthearted social media posts and memes, with the Kerala Tourism Department cheekily captioning a photo of the jet: 'Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave.'Despite India suggesting a hangar shift due to weather concerns, the UK reportedly declined at first. Eventually, a 24-member Royal Air Force technical team—including 14 engineers and 10 crew—arrived on July 6 with specialized equipment to repair the jet. The aircraft was then moved to the Air India Engineering Services hangar for maintenance.According to reports, the UK will be charged ₹26,261 per day for parking, bringing the total to around ₹9.19 lakh for 35 days. Hangar usage charges from July 6 onward will be levied by AI Engineering Services Ltd.The aircraft's departure details remain under wraps, with final refuelling and logistics still being worked out. F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability.
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