The British F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet that had been grounded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for over a month due to a technical malfunction has finally taken off for its return journey to the United Kingdom.
The fifth-generation combat aircraft had made an unscheduled landing in Thiruvananthapuram on June 14, after being diverted from the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, amid poor weather conditions and dwindling fuel. According to reports, the jet experienced a hydraulic failure during landing, which affected vital systems like its landing gear, braking system, and control surfaces and caused it to become permanently grounded.
The jet's unusual appearance quickly attracted local attention after it was first parked on the tarmac in plain sight. It inspired countless memes and even a tongue-in-cheek social media post from the Kerala Tourism Department, thanking the United Kingdom for the aircraft's “visit.”
At one point, there were genuine concerns that the aircraft would have to be dismantled and airlifted back to the UK via a transport plane. However, those fears were allayed when a Royal Air Force maintenance team flew into Kerala on July 6, aboard an Airbus A400M Atlas, carrying critical spare parts and diagnostic tools.
The hydraulic problem was successfully fixed by engineers after weeks of testing, inspection, and repair, allowing the jet to finally take off. The F-35B version, which is produced by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most expensive and advanced fighter jets in the world, costing more than $115 million USD each. A key component of the UK's contemporary aerial defence strategy, the aircraft is designed for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and is a key asset in NATO's air combat fleet.
The successful takeoff concludes an unusual aviation incident in India and highlights the challenges of deploying advanced military equipment in different parts of the world.
Also Read: After 5-week halt, F-35B fighter to fly from Kerala on July 22
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