
Stranded jet in Kerala: UK's F-35B finally cleared to fly today after 39 Days
NEW DELHI: A British F35B fighter jet, grounded at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram airport since June 14 due to a hydraulic system malfunction, is set to depart on Tuesday after successful repairs by a UK technical team including manufacturer representatives.
The aircraft, which belongs to the UK navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was forced to land at the city airport during a routine flight when it encountered technical problems preventing it from landing on the ship.
The repair work took approximately one week to complete, with technicians addressing the issues in the jet's hydraulic system before clearing it for departure.
Timeline of the British F-35 Aircraft in India:
June 14:
The Royal Navy's stealth aircraft, operating with the Carrier Strike Group from HMS Prince of Wales, executed an emergency landing citing fuel concerns and unfavourable weather during standard operations.
The IAF assisted in ensuring a secure landing and provided subsequent fuel and logistics assistance.
June 15:
A formal statement from the IAF confirmed their complete awareness of the situation and their assistance rendered for "safety reasons". Royal Navy technical personnel from the carrier group attempted repairs unsuccessfully.
June 25:
Officials from Britain acknowledged ongoing repair efforts whilst expressing gratitude to Indian authorities for their assistance.
June 27:
British authorities announced plans to transfer the F-35B stealth aircraft to the local MRO facility for necessary repairs.
July 6:
A specialist British team comprising 21 personnel, including aviation engineers, arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The £85-million aircraft was subsequently relocated from the tarmac to a hangar.
July 21:
Airport officials confirmed that the sophisticated British F-35B fighter aircraft is scheduled to depart on July 22, following successful repairs, after more than a month's stay at the airport.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Farmers of Hanur Taluk in Karanataka seek Coimbatore administration's support to trace map of erstwhile water body
Farmers belonging to Hanur taluk in Chamarjanagar district of Karnataka State have sought the help of the Coimbatore district administration to trace the map of a 40-acre water body at Doddadevarahalli hamlet in Martalli Village Panchayat that had existed in pre-Independence era. Kollegal taluk, out of which Hanur taluk was carved later, was part of the composite Coimbatore district during the British regime. Down the decades, the water body was subsumed in the reserve forest area. The map is crucial for the team as the Forest Department in Karnataka had reportedly expressed readiness to revive the water body on furnishing of proper records. A team of farmers had initially approached the Erode district administration and carried out an extensive search in the sub-registrar office in Gobichettipalayam, but were not able to trace the records. They were, in turn, directed to the District Record Centre at Perur in Coimbatore district. The water body was crucial for livelihood of residents in 17 hamlets including Doddadevarahalli, Kadambur, Makaralli and Elachikarai in the surroundings, Arputharaj, a team member said. The team has in its possession a document pertaining to 1915 that had been preserved for generations. The document states about the existence of the water body at the time when Coimbatore district had the jurisdiction over Kollegal prior to demarcation of boundaries on linguistic basis, after the British era. The cause of the team that has been looking for records from Tamil Nadu that would corroborate the particulars in the document in their possession was espoused at the monthly farmers' grievance redressal meeting by a senior functionary of Annur-based Kongu Ilaignar Peravai Palanisamy. District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, who chaired the meeting, assured the members to trace out the map from the District Record Centre. According to the Archives Department, the Coimbatore District Record Office established in 1982 preserves records of administrative and historical importance which are more than 30 years old. A total of 38,741 records belonging to Revenue, Education, Forest, Local Administration and other departments are preserved. Public welfare organisations in Hanur have been emphasising on revival of the water body for about a decade, and the farmers have been actively pursuing the issue for the last two years, in the wake of acute water shortage. The residents who are pre-dominantly Tamil-speaking people find themselves in a situation of sourcing water from borewells dug to a depth in excess of 900 metres. 'The salt content in the water is causing various ailments,' Mr. Arputhasamy said. At present, the site of the erstwhile water body looks like a shrunken pond. Fortunately for the residents, the Forest Department is not averse to restoring the water body. The revival of water body will pave way for laying a pipeline for sourcing Cauvery water from within a 16-km distance whereby the aquifer level would also rise, Mr. Arputhasamy said.


Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Watch: IAF shares rare Kargil war photos with untold stories from 1999, a tribute you can't miss
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday paid a heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War, marking the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The day honours the courage, sacrifice and unwavering spirit of the armed forces who fought to defend India. To commemorate the occasion, the IAF shared an emotional video over two minutes long on social media. It highlighted the bravery of its personnel and included rare photographs from the war, titled "The War Diary in Photographs." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Technology Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Management Leadership Digital Marketing Operations Management Project Management Finance MCA Data Science Data Science healthcare Degree others Data Analytics CXO Public Policy Others Product Management MBA PGDM Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details On platform X (formerly Twitter), the IAF wrote: "The Indian Air Force pays heartfelt tribute to the valiant Warriors of the Kargil War. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve continue to inspire a nation united in gratitude." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo — IAF_MCC (@IAF_MCC) Leaders Pay Respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his respects and said the sacrifices made by the soldiers would inspire generations. Live Events 'Heartfelt greetings to the countrymen on Kargil Vijay Diwas. This occasion reminds us of the unmatched bravery of those brave sons of Mother India who gave their lives to protect the nation's honour,' he posted. President Droupadi Murmu too expressed her admiration: 'On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. Their dedication and supreme sacrifice will forever inspire the citizens of our country.' Families Honour Fallen Soldiers On Friday, family members of soldiers who died in the Kargil War gathered at Lamochen Viewpoint in Drass to remember their loved ones. The event was filled with emotion as people shared memories and paid tribute to the heroes. Rajesh, the brother of a soldier who died at Tiger Hill, shared a touching story: 'We wrote a letter to my brother during the war, and he replied saying he was not in danger. But after his death, we found his diary, which he had given to a friend. In it, he wrote that he didn't think he'd return from the mission.' Surekha Shinde, who lost her brother in the war, said: 'He had served in the army for five years before the war. I feel proud to be here today and thank the army for inviting us.' What Is Kargil Vijay Diwas? Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on 26 July. It marks India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War when Indian soldiers successfully reclaimed mountain peaks in the Kargil-Siachen region that had been secretly captured by Pakistani troops. The war lasted more than 60 days and ended with Operation Vijay, a major military campaign. India showed great political and military restraint by keeping the war limited to the region. IAF's Role in the Kargil War The Indian Air Force played a crucial role under Operation Safed Sagar. Launched on 26 May 1999, it was the first time since 1971 that India used air power in Kashmir. The IAF carried out high-altitude bombing missions without crossing international borders, showing how effective air power could be in a limited conflict. According to the IAF, the operation proved that the use of air forces could change the course of a war while staying within strategic limits. Inputs from ANI


Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Southwest Airlines flight headed to Las Vegas takes dramatic plunge in response to nearby aircraft
A Southwest Airline jet heading to Las Vegas from Southern California took a dramatic plunge shortly after takeoff Friday in response to an alert about a nearby plane, injuring two flight attendants, authorities and passengers said. Southwest flight 1496 was responding to an onboard alert about another aircraft in its vicinity, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA is investigating. The crew responded to two air alerts that required the pilot to climb then descend, Southwest said in a statement. The flight departed from Hollywood Burbank Airport just before noon. Passengers posted on social media that the plane took a dramatic drop soon after takeoff. Data from the flight tracking site FlightAware shows it dropped roughly 300 feet (91.44 meters) in 36 seconds. 'Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us,' comedian Jimmy Dore posted on X. The plane was in the same airspace near Burbank as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 just after noon local time, FlightAware shows. A Hawker Hunter is a British fighter plane. Records show its owned by Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd, a British defense contracting company. The company didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Mike Christensen, an airport spokesman for Hollywood Burbank, said that neither the control tower or the operations department, which tracks planes departing and arriving, have any record of the Southwest flight plunging in their airspace. Southwest said the flight continued to Las Vegas, 'where it landed uneventfully.' The airline said that it is working with the FAA 'to further understand the circumstances' of the event. This close call is just the latest incident to raise questions about aviation safety in the wake of January's midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.