Repair work on the British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter jet has commenced at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, nearly three weeks after the aircraft made an emergency landing due to inclement weather over the Indian Ocean, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.
A team of engineers from the United Kingdom (UK), travelling aboard a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas, has arrived in India to carry out the necessary repairs, reported ANI. The fifth-generation stealth jet has remained grounded at the airport since June 14.
“UPDATE: A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F-35B aircraft. Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities,” the UK MoD said in a statement.
The advanced jet, operated by the Royal Navy, had been unable to return to its aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, due to severe weather. While on a routine sortie outside Indian airspace, it was forced to divert and landed safely at Thiruvananthapuram.
Following the emergency landing, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that Thiruvananthapuram had been designated as an emergency recovery airfield for such contingencies.
In a post on X, the IAF stated: “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 further added: “On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F-35B 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.”
Engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales initially attempted repairs, but were unable to resolve the issue. Defence sources later confirmed that the jet had suffered a hydraulic failure while attempting to depart post-refuelling. A 25-member RAF technical team was subsequently dispatched to India with specialised equipment to undertake the repairs.
The aircraft was moved on Sunday to the Air India Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at the airport. The UK Government earlier stated that it had accepted the offer of space within the MRO facility and was working with Indian authorities to finalise the arrangements.
“In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved following the arrival of UK engineers, who are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process,” the UK Government said.
A spokesperson for the British High Commission added: “We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian authorities for their continued support.”
“The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams,” the statement added.
The American-built Lockheed Martin F-35B — known for its stealth capabilities and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) features — has drawn significant public attention since its landing, even inspiring quirky local marketing campaigns in Kerala.
The jet is currently under 24-hour watch, guarded jointly by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and British personnel.
Should repairs prove unfeasible on-site, the aircraft may be dismantled and airlifted back to the United Kingdom aboard a military transport aircraft.
(With ANI inputs)