The British F-35B fighter jet, which had been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram airport for 22 days following an emergency landing last month, was finally moved out of the airport premises on Sunday.
A team of technical experts from the British Royal Air Force, aboard an RAF Airbus A400M Atlas, landed in Thiruvananthapuram earlier in the day to assess the condition of the fighter jet, according to reports. Following the inspection, the jet was relocated to a hangar. A video posted by ANI showed the aircraft being carefully towed from its position on the tarmac.
The F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was engaged in operations approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala when it encountered adverse weather and a low-fuel situation.
On June 14, what was meant to be a routine operation turned into an unexpected detour for a British F-35B fighter jet, as worsening weather and low fuel forced the pilot to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport. The Indian Air Force responded swiftly, guiding the cutting-edge jet to a safe touchdown and extending a warm hand of support to the British crew—arranging refuelling and necessary logistics without missing a beat.
Just as everything seemed on track for the aircraft to rejoin its carrier, a last-minute hitch brought plans to a halt. During pre-departure checks, a hydraulic failure was discovered—serious enough to put the jet’s ability to take off and land at risk. A small Royal Navy team, including three dedicated technicians, tried their best to fix the issue, but the problem proved too complex to resolve on-site. With safety as the top priority, the F-35B remained grounded, tucked away at Bay 4 of the airport under the watchful eye of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Also Read: C-17 Globemaster to airlift stranded British F-35B jet from India
Initially, the British Royal Navy declined an offer from Air India to shift the aircraft into a hangar, even as Kerala’s monsoon poured steadily outside. But as the rains persisted, common sense prevailed, and the fighter jet was finally moved indoors for better protection.
Meanwhile, what could have been a dry, bureaucratic standoff turned into a social media spectacle. The F-35B unintentionally became a local celebrity. Internet users had a field day, assigning it an “Aadhaar card,” stitching it into Bollywood memes, and adding dubbed dialogue edits. Even Kerala Tourism jumped in with a playful post, welcoming the high-tech visitor with tongue-in-cheek humour.
Now, with a fresh team of British technical experts arriving and the jet finally moved to a hangar, things are inching toward resolution. What started as a mid-air emergency has become one of the most unusual—and talked-about—jet layovers in recent memory.
Also Read: UK F-35 memes soar as jet stays grounded in Kerala
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