UK engineering team departs after F-35B jet resumes service
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 23 (PTI) A 17-member UK engineering team, deployed here since July 6 to carry out repairs and safety checks on the F-35B fighter jet, returned on Wednesday night, a day after the aircraft resumed active service.
A source said the UK Air Force personnel had returned after expressing gratitude to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for providing full assistance — from the emergency landing of the British F-35B aircraft to its departure once the issues were resolved.
A UK Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant personally visited and thanked the airport authorities.
He also presented a memento from the Royal Air Force, the source said.
The 17-member team departed at around 9.30 pm in a Royal Air Force A400 aircraft, the source added.
The British F-35B fighter jet flew back on Tuesday after completing maintenance — more than a month after it made an emergency landing at the international airport here and remained parked since.
The jet, which took off at 10.50 am on Tuesday, flew to Darwin, Australia. PTI TGB ROH
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