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The British Royal Navy's F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which was grounded in Kerala‘s Thiruvananthapuram for five weeks, finally took off. The jet, which landed in Thiruvananthapuram following an emergency diversion on June 14, took off from the international airport at 10.50 am on Tuesday, July 22, heading to its intended destination in Australia.
The state-of-the-art fifth-generation stealth jet, known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, is part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group. It was returning from joint Indo-Pacific maritime exercises with the Indian Navy when adverse weather conditions prevented its return to the aircraft carrier, forcing an emergency landing in Kerala.
Initially, engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the aircraft, but when the hydraulic snag could not be rectified, a specialised engineering team from the UK and the US was flown in on July 6. The aircraft was moved to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and the area was cordoned off for safety and operational efficiency. Within a week, the engineering team managed to restore the aircraft to operational status.
On Monday, the jet was repositioned on the tarmac, and by Tuesday morning, it was cleared for departure.
A British High Commission spokesperson confirmed the aircraft’s departure and stated: “A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14 departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.”
The spokesperson further added, “The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India.”
The jet’s prolonged stay in Kerala generated significant buzz on social media, with memes and spoof reviews going viral. Kerala Tourism even jumped into the fray with a post on X, joking: “Kerala, the destination you will never want to leave. Thank you, The Fauxy,” featuring a satirical "review" from the UK jet.
With the aircraft now airborne, the engineering team is also expected to leave Kerala later on Tuesday via a special return flight.
(With IANS inputs)