'Tukde-Tukde': Stuck F-35B fighter jet in Kerala to be now flown back into pieces as 40-member engineering team fails to repair
F-35B fighter jet
that made an
emergency landing
at
Trivandrum International Airport
on June 14 will now be reportedly dismantled and flown back to the United Kingdom on a
C-17 Globemaster
aircraft. The decision comes after multiple failed attempts to repair the jet on-site, despite the deployment of a 40-member British engineering team with specialised tools.
Emergency landing triggered by weather and low fuel
The jet was returning to the aircraft carrier
HMS Prince of Wales
when it encountered poor weather and ran low on fuel. The pilot issued a distress alert using the emergency transponder code SQUAWK 7700. The Indian Air Force's command and control system then directed the fighter to land at Bay 4 of Trivandrum airport, a bay normally reserved for VIP movements. There was initial confusion about the nature of the landing, but the IAF later confirmed that it was due to fuel exhaustion after several failed attempts to land on the carrier at sea.
Technical fault grounds the aircraft
A
hydraulic system fault
has reportedly kept the aircraft grounded since landing. Although Royal Navy engineers attempted to fix the issue, the repairs were unsuccessful. A larger team of around 40 specialists from the UK, along with support from the US, has been deployed to assist with further assessment and dismantling. A spokesperson from the British High Commission said, 'Efforts are underway to restore the aircraft as quickly as possible,' and thanked Indian authorities for their cooperation.
Indian Air Force's support declined over tech secrecy
The Indian Air Force had reportedly offered to move the F-35B to one of its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centres. British officials are said to have declined, reportedly over concerns that sensitive stealth technology could be exposed. Air India also reportedly offered hangar space to shelter the aircraft from heavy rain, but that offer too was declined. The aircraft remains parked on the open tarmac at the airport.
UK may be charged for extended parking
Authorities at Trivandrum airport have said that the UK will be charged parking fees, as the aircraft remained grounded for more than two weeks. The final decision on the charges will be taken by the Union government. While standard parking charges depend on an aircraft's weight, a government official told The Times of India that 'given the aircraft's military status and foreign origin, the dues may be routed through central agencies.'
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First-of-its-kind incident for UK's F-35B
This is reportedly the first time a British F-35B has been stranded in a foreign country. The aircraft, which is part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group, had been taking part in joint maritime exercises with India. Developed by U.S. defence contractor Lockheed Martin, the F-35B is designed for short take-offs and vertical landings (STOVL), making it suitable for use on aircraft carriers and temporary runways.
Jet becomes subject of memes and online attention
The unusual sight of a high-end British fighter jet parked at a civilian airport has caught the attention of internet users. Photos and videos of the F-35B under the open sky, surrounded by commercial aircraft and monsoon rains, have been widely shared online. Social media users have circulated memes highlighting the contrast between the jet's cutting-edge stealth design and its grounded state on a busy Indian runway. Captions like 'Stealth mode: disabled', 'When you miss your Uber and end up in Trivandrum', and 'Parked like a VIP, grounded like a student' have added humour to the situation, drawing both aviation enthusiasts and casual viewers into the conversation.
Dismantling and repatriation underway
As efforts to repair the aircraft have failed, the jet will now be partially dismantled and flown back to the UK in a C-17 transport aircraft. British engineers are preparing the aircraft for this operation, which will involve coordination with Indian airport authorities and defence officials.
A key component of allied airpower
The F-35B is part of the wider F-35 program, which is projected to cost over $2 trillion over its lifetime—making it the most expensive weapons system ever built. It features advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and avionics capabilities and plays a central role in
NATO
and allied operations from sea and land-based platforms across the world.
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