New Delhi, July 23: A British F-35B Lightning fighter jet that made an emergency landing in southern India last month has taken off after undergoing extensive repairs, the Indian and UK defence authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The stealth aircraft, valued at approximately £85 million ($109 million), had been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala since June 14 following a suspected hydraulic fault during a routine operation as part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales carrier group.
A 25-member team of engineers from the UK Royal Air Force was flown in on a military Airbus A400M Atlas with specialised equipment to undertake the repairs, after initial attempts by crew aboard the carrier failed. The jet was moved to an Air India hangar and kept under tight security by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and British personnel throughout the repair period.
“The aircraft has now successfully departed, and the maintenance crew will return separately,” India’s Ministry of Defence said, citing cooperation under existing UK-India defence arrangements.
The Indian Air Force earlier confirmed that Thiruvananthapuram is designated as an emergency recovery airfield for allied aircraft. The UK Ministry of Defence thanked Indian authorities for their “continued support and collaboration” throughout the episode.
Known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, the F-35B’s prolonged stay in Kerala sparked public interest and social media humour, with Kerala Tourism posting a now-viral message: “Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave.”
British defence officials had earlier considered dismantling and airlifting the jet back to the UK if on-site repairs had proved unworkable. The incident and its resolution underscore growing defence cooperation between the UK and India amid expanding Indo-Pacific engagement.
