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A $110 million F‑35B Lightning stealth fighter jet of the UK's Royal Navy remains grounded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, after it made an emergency landing on June 14 during a sortie over the Indian Ocean. Diverted due to bad weather and later struck by a technical fault, the jet couldn't return to the HMS Prince of Wales, its carrier. Now, a 40-member British aviation engineering team is expected to land in Kerala on July 5 to conduct repairs. Originally scheduled to arrive on July 2, their arrival was delayed for unspecified reasons. The aircraft has since been moved to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport. Guarded 24x7 by RAF officers, the fighter remains under UK control. The British High Commission thanked India for its cooperation, while Defence Minister Luke Pollard praised India's support and the RAF's oversight.#kerala #thiruvananthapuramairport #f35 #britishroyalnavy #c17globemaster #f35kerala #strandedfighterjet #ukindiamilitary #rafjetindia #f35repairteam #thiruvananthapuram #lockheedmartin #hmsprinceofwales #c17airlift #defencediplomacy #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews
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3:49 India Today reports on the arrival of a team of 25 UK technical experts in Thiruvananthapuram to repair a Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet. The aircraft has been stranded at the city's international airport for over 25 days since its emergency landing on June 14 due to a technical fault. The jet, which was on a routine flying exercise, initially cited low fuel for the landing. The team will assess the aircraft and attempt repairs. If unsuccessful, the jet may be moved to a hangar or potentially dismantled and airlifted. This development follows an earlier unsuccessful inspection by a team from a British ship. The prolonged stay of the F-35 at the airport has sparked curiosity and social media activity, including memes and marketing campaigns.
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