Thiruvananthapuram, June 16: A British F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Saturday night after issuing a distress signal, Indian defence officials said.
The aircraft, believed to have taken off from a UK Royal Navy aircraft carrier operating in the Indian Ocean region, landed safely at around 9:28 p.m. local time. The pilot reportedly signalled low fuel, prompting airport authorities to declare a full-scale emergency.
“This is a normal occurrence of diversion by the F-35,” an Indian Defence Ministry spokesperson said. “The Indian Air Force (IAF) is fully aware and has facilitated the aircraft for flight safety reasons. All assistance is being given, and IAF is in coordination with all agencies,” the spokesperson added.
Airport sources said the aircraft was moved to an isolated bay following the landing and remains parked there. British authorities replaced the jet’s crew on Sunday afternoon using a helicopter to bring in another pilot, who has been cleared to remain at the airport.
The cause of the emergency was not officially disclosed, but officials familiar with the matter said the jet may have developed a technical fault mid-flight. Flight tracking data showed that the aircraft briefly emitted an emergency transponder code — SQUAWK 7700 — off the Thiruvananthapuram coast at around 9 p.m., indicating distress.
Defence sources said the F-35 was likely participating in a recent joint naval exercise in the western Arabian Sea involving the Indian Navy and the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG25). The aircraft is part of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class carrier fleet and features advanced stealth and combat capabilities.
The jet, built by U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, is among the most sophisticated fighter aircraft in operation and is used by key NATO allies. The aircraft will take off from the airport once technical issues are resolved and clearance is granted by India’s Ministry of Defence, the officials said.
