‘Bye, Bro': British Fighter Jet, Stranded in India, Finally Leaves for Home
British engineers had struggled for weeks to fix the aircraft, which was unable to return to an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea after a flight in mid-June because of bad weather.
It was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the state of Kerala for what proved a lengthy stay.
The British High Commission in New Delhi said in a statement that an engineering team deployed to fix the aircraft in early July had managed to repair it, 'allowing the aircraft to resume active service.' The advanced jet, worth more than $100 million, was on its way to Darwin, Australia, according to an official at the Kerala airport, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the jet.
The official said a crew of 14 people worked to repair to the jet's hydraulic and auxiliary power systems. The crew was set to be picked up by a Royal Air Force aircraft on Wednesday to return to Britain.
The jet was under heavy security during its time at the airport, which experts said was necessary to protect its highly sensitive technology. The state-of-the-art plane, made by Lockheed Martin in Texas, is also used by a number of Britain's allies, including the United States. Airport staff members were not allowed to be near the hangar where the jet was being repaired, the airport official said.
As the jet sat idle at the airport, it drew attention from amused locals, including the region's tourism department. Indians poked fun at the plane with memes, including a fake travel review of Kerala from the jet and a spoof listing for the plane's sale on a classified site.
As news spread of the plane's impending departure, locals were quick to chime in again. On social media, users posted messages like 'Bye, bro,' and 'Keep visiting.'
One smitten user even made an appeal for the plane to stay, writing: 'Please don't go. We loved you standing on the airport. Feelings had developed.'
Jonathan Wolfe contributed reporting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Condé Nast Traveler
a day ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
10 Most Expensive Countries in the World to Grab a Cappuccino
Whether it's a grouchy work morning, a first date, or a desperate hangover fix, coffee is often the first thing we reach for, rain, or shine. As Lorelai Gilmore famously taught us, it's not just a beverage—it's a lifeline. Sure, there's joy in brewing it yourself in a moka pot at sunrise. But let's be honest: coffee just hits differently when it's handed to you over the counter at your favorite café, plucked off a hand-lettered whiteboard menu next to a display of flaky pastries. Turns out, part of what makes it taste so good might just be the price tag. According to Deutsche Bank's 2025 'Mapping the World's Prices' report, the cheapest cup of cappuccino in the world is in Cairo, Egypt, at just $1.57. While Zurich in Switzerland tops the chart at a steep $6.77 per cup. In India, the numbers are more comforting. A cappuccino in Delhi averages $2.07, while in Mumbai it's slightly pricier at $2.58. Italy, home of the cappuccino and entire espresso-fueled mornings, unsurprisingly lands on the affordable side too. In Rome, you can still sip on one for $1.79, making it the second cheapest city in the world. Here's where your caffeine craving might just make your wallet wince a little: The most expensive places in the world to grab a cappuccino Switzerland (Zurich): $6.77 Denmark (Copenhagen): $6.77 United States (New York): $5.95 United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi): $5.84 United Kingdom (Edinburgh): $5.28 Finland (Helsinki): $5.13 Sweden (Stockholm): $5.10 Hong Kong (Hong Kong): $5.09 Qatar (Doha): $5.08 Austria (Vienna): $4.96 The average cost of a cappuccino is based on 2025 data (in USD), but actual prices may vary depending on location, café type, and local fluctuations. This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller India.
Skift
2 days ago
- Skift
Pieter Elbers' Playbook for Turning IndiGo Into a Global Carrier
IndiGo dominates India's skies. The harder part is breaking out of the regional market to compete with the giants of Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Leaders of Travel: Skift C-Suite Series What are the top trends impacting hotels, airlines, and online bookings? We speak to the executives shaping the future of travel. What are the top trends impacting hotels, airlines, and online bookings? We speak to the executives shaping the future of travel. Learn More Already India's largest airline, IndiGo hired Pieter Elbers to accelerate its expansion. Under his watch as chief executive, the company is ramping up its international growth as it transitions from being a regional player into a major cross-border carrier. More than 100 long-haul aircraft are on the way. IndiGo has 60 A350-900 widebodies on firm order, plus more than 60 A321XLRs – the latter due to join the fleet before the end of the year. Hundreds more short and medium-haul jets are also in the pipeline. The airline is eager to expand, but it didn't want to wait for the factory-fresh A350s to be delivered. As a short-term workaround, the airline is leasing 787 Dreamliner jets from European carrier Norse Atlantic. These on-loan planes allowed IndiGo to start flights to Amsterdam and Manchester earlier this month. Airline Business 101 Speaking to Skift in Manchester, Elbers opened the conversation with a quick reminder – costs determine the airfare and an airline's positioning in the market. More typical short-haul IndiGo routes see an à la carte offering. It's a 'pay what you use' approach adopted by countless carriers around the world. However, the nature of IndiGo's intercontinental network expansion requires a different approach. It's what Elbers calls his 'fit-for-purpose' product development methodology. 'At
Skift
3 days ago
- Skift
Andhra Pradesh Taps Justa Hotels to Develop Boutique Hospitality Projects
Justa's entry into Andhra Pradesh marks a strategic step as the state ramps up boutique and sustainable tourism. With new partnerships and infrastructure pushes, Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as more than just a pilgrimage stop. Boutique luxury hotel chain Justa Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority to boost hospitality infrastructure and tourism development in the state. As per the agreement, Justa will enable brand affiliations and provide hospitality expertise to investors who are interested in developing hotels and resorts across the state. According to Justa's website, the company provides hotel development consulting services to individuals, brands, unbranded properties, and resorts to 'help expand their reach and maximize their overall return on investment.' It says it provides services across design, development solutions, hotel development and management, distribution setup, talent management, acquisition, and sales and marketing. 'The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the creation of high-quality, boutique and premium properties that align with Justa's commitment to design-led, locally inspired hospitality,' the hotel chain said in a statement. Justa which operates 25 properties across 10 states in India, does not have any operational presence in Andhra Pradesh at the moment. The partnership will allow Justa to increase its presence in the state across JüSTa, Nuo by JüSTa, and Bookmark Resorts brands, Richa Khurana Singh, vice president – development at Justa said. Andhra Pradesh's Tourism Push: This partnership comes a few months after Andhra Pradesh government identified more than 500 homestays across the state to help promote inclusive and sustainable to
