UK Navy's F-35B Still Stuck In Kerala, Could Be Airlifted If Snag Persists: Report
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Hydraulic failure kept the British fighter jet grounded after refuelling in Kerala. The first repair team couldn't fix the issue and a larger team is now expected.
A British F-35B fighter jet that made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport due to low fuel continues to remain grounded, days after a failed attempt to fix a fresh technical snag.
After receiving support from the Indian Air Force, including refuelling, the jet was preparing to return to its carrier group stationed off the Kerala coast. However, officials said the aircraft developed a hydraulic failure during departure and had to remain at the airport.
A UK Navy maintenance team was flown in to repair the issue but was unable to rectify the problem. Now, a larger support team is expected to be sent to attempt another round of repairs. If that fails, defence officials told news agency ANI that the aircraft may be recovered by a military transport plane.
The aircraft had initially landed on June 15 after it was forced to divert due to low fuel and adverse weather, which prevented it from returning to its ship stationed roughly 100 nautical miles away. The diversion was executed as part of standard contingency protocols agreed under 'Operation Highmast' which is a joint framework between the UK and Indian air forces.
The emergency was handled promptly by Indian airport and IAF personnel, with British authorities reportedly describing the local response as 'brilliant."
Authorities say safety remains the top priority and all recovery options which also include airlifting the fighter back aboard a military aircraft continue to remain open.
First Published:
June 20, 2025, 21:13 IST
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