The world's most advanced fighter jet, the F-35B, is still stuck at Kerala airport, and a CISF jawan is guarding it
A British
Royal Navy
F-35B Lightning II fighter jet continues to remain grounded at
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
for the fourth straight day after it made an emergency landing on Saturday night. The stealth jet, worth over $100 million, had to divert due to a suspected
hydraulic system failure
while flying over international waters.
Jet took off from UK carrier off Kerala coast
The
F-35B
had taken off from
HMS Prince of Wales
, the United Kingdom's flagship aircraft carrier, located nearly 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. According to officials, Royal Navy technicians were flown in by helicopter the same night. However, the repairs have faced delays and the aircraft could not take off as planned on Tuesday morning.
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Heavy weather forced emergency diversion
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on June 14. The aircraft, unable to return to the carrier due to rough sea conditions and bad weather, was redirected to Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian Air Force, through its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), coordinated with civil air traffic controllers to ensure a safe landing. The airport is designated as a diversion base for British naval aircraft in the region.
IAF Detected and Identified F35B
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'A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield," the IAF said in a post on X.
— IAF_MCC (@IAF_MCC)
'On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F35B was detected and identified by the IAF's IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft," IAF added.
Pilot monitored jet overnight
After landing, the pilot remained near the aircraft at the apron control zone to keep visual contact until Royal Navy crew arrived. Officials clarified that the pilot was not seated next to the aircraft, countering
social media
reports. Both the pilot and arriving crew were later moved to the Emergency Medical Centre at the airport for rest.
Crew working on repairs, some return to carrier
Currently, three Royal Navy personnel — the pilot and two technicians — are in Kerala continuing repair work. Six additional technicians, who had reached the site between Sunday and Monday, returned to the Prince of Wales by helicopter on Tuesday afternoon.
CISF secures jet, special arrangements made
The F-35B remains stationed in Bay 4 of the airport under heavy security. An armed CISF unit has been deployed to guard the jet. A local ground-handling agency has also been assisting, as per Royal Navy's request. Airport authorities have arranged accommodation and meals, including Western food options, for the foreign personnel.
F-35B part of world's costliest defence program
The F-35 fighter jet program, led by U.S. defence firm Lockheed Martin, is expected to cost more than $2 trillion over its operational life — the most expensive weapons project in history. The F-35B variant, used for short take-offs and vertical landings (STOVL), is a key platform for naval and expeditionary missions.
Designed for versatility and global missions
Equipped with stealth technology, advanced avionics, and sensor fusion for full 360-degree awareness, the F-35B is designed to operate from aircraft carriers, airbases, and makeshift runways. It plays a vital role in modern combat strategy among
NATO
and partner nations, reshaping the airpower landscape for the coming decades.
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