THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The British F-35B fighter jet that has remained grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport for over five weeks due to a technical fault is now scheduled to depart on Tuesday, following successful repairs.
The cutting-edge jet, valued at £100 million, had been stuck at the airport since June 14 after encountering a hydraulic system malfunction during a routine flight. A team of UK-based technicians, including engineers from the aircraft’s manufacturer, arrived in India and resolved the issue over the past week.
An airport official confirmed that the aircraft would be moved out of the Air India hangar by Monday evening and cleared for take-off the following day. “The fault was traced and rectified. The jet is now ready for departure,” the official said.
The F-35B, part of the UK Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales carrier fleet, was on a training sortie when it experienced the glitch. Unable to return to the ship, the pilot diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, which had already been designated as an emergency diversion airport. The Indian Air Force coordinated with airport authorities to facilitate the safe emergency landing.
Initially parked at Bay 4, the fighter remained stationary for days as the technical team aboard the aircraft carrier was unable to fix the problem. It was subsequently towed to Air India’s maintenance hangar for inspection and repairs after the arrival of the UK support crew.
According to sources, the airport operator may levy a fee for the extended use of its facilities, though no official confirmation has been made.
With the technical snag now resolved, the aircraft is expected to rejoin operations with the Royal Navy, marking the end of an unusual and high-profile episode in India-UK military aviation cooperation.
