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British F-35 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing At Kerala Airport
British F-35 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing At Kerala Airport

NDTV

timea day ago

  • General
  • NDTV

British F-35 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing At Kerala Airport

Show Quick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed New Delhi: A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala late on Saturday night after running low on fuel while on a sortie over the Indian Ocean. The 5th-generation stealth fighter is part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific and had recently completed joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy. Military aviation experts describe the incident as unusual but not unprecedented. The F-35B variant is specifically designed for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL), allowing it to operate from aircraft carriers without catapult systems. It is not clear why the aircraft was unable to recover onto the Prince of Wales, although early indications suggest poor weather conditions around the carrier may have prevented a safe landing. The F-35 programme, spearheaded by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, is widely regarded as one of the most advanced multirole fighter aircraft platforms in service today. The aircraft's stealth capabilities, electronic warfare systems, and data-sharing infrastructure are central to the US, UK, Israel and NATO's modern air strategy. Neither the UK Ministry of Defence nor Lockheed Martin have issued statements on the specifics of the emergency landing. As of Sunday morning, the fighter jet remains parked at Thiruvananthapuram airport.

Why A British F-35 Fighter Jet Made Emergency Landing In Kerala
Why A British F-35 Fighter Jet Made Emergency Landing In Kerala

NDTV

timea day ago

  • General
  • NDTV

Why A British F-35 Fighter Jet Made Emergency Landing In Kerala

A British F-35B fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Kerala on Saturday night, after dangerously running low on fuel while flying a mission over the Arabian Sea. The stealth aircraft, part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was operating in the Indo-Pacific and had recently wrapped up joint maritime drills with the Indian Navy. Military sources say the jet encountered adverse weather near the aircraft carrier, which made it unsafe for a recovery at sea. With fuel levels dropping critically, the British pilot requested clearance to land on Indian soil. Authorities swiftly granted permission, and the jet was guided to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. It landed safely around 10:30 pm. The pilot was unharmed. Indian Navy officials and the British High Commission are coordinating with local authorities to refuel and assess the jet before it rejoins carrier operations. Officials confirmed the aircraft is in a secure section of the airport, and there no damage or technical fault was identified as of now. Engineers from both sides will oversee its departure once conditions permit. The British F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet renowned for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, which make it uniquely suited for operations from aircraft carriers like the HMS Prince of Wales. Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 engine with a Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, the F-35B can hover and land vertically on short runways or even on amphibious assault ships-an essential feature when carrier landings become risky due to bad weather or rough sea conditions. With its low radar signature, supersonic speed, and cutting-edge sensor fusion, the aircraft offers unmatched situational awareness, making it a critical asset for modern air forces. The incident comes amid heightened public focus on aviation safety, following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad only days earlier. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off, killing 274 people, including several on the ground. Investigations are underway, with the flight's black box recovered and aviation regulators ordering checks across India's Dreamliner fleet.

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