Thiruvananthapuram, India, July 22, 2025 — A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets valued at over $110 million, is set to depart from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, on Tuesday, following a prolonged grounding due to a technical malfunction. The state-of-the-art aircraft, which made an emergency landing on June 14, 2025, has been stationed at the airport’s Air India hangar for over a month, undergoing extensive repairs by British aviation engineers.
The F-35B, part of the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was on a routine sortie in the Indian Ocean when it encountered severe weather conditions, forcing the pilot to divert to Thiruvananthapuram due to low fuel levels and a subsequent hydraulic failure. The emergency landing, facilitated by the Indian Air Force, marked the beginning of a five-week saga that drew global attention and sparked curiosity about the challenges of repairing such a sophisticated aircraft in a foreign nation.
Initial repair attempts by engineers from HMS Prince of Wales were unsuccessful, prompting the UK Ministry of Defence to deploy a specialized team of 14 engineers with advanced equipment to Kerala. The jet, parked in Bay 4 under tight security provided by India’s Central Industrial Security Force, was towed to a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport for comprehensive diagnostics and repairs. Speculation arose that the aircraft might need to be dismantled and transported back to the UK via a C-17 Globemaster, a process previously undertaken for an F-35 in 2019. However, the British team’s efforts culminated in the jet being declared airworthy on Monday, July 21.
The aircraft is confirmed to be airworthy and is scheduled to be pulled out of the hangar today, an airport official told media, noting that the exact departure time remains undisclosed for security reasons. The jet will fly back on Tuesday, marking the end of its unexpected stay in India. The departure is expected to include a refueling stop en route to the UK, with a backup aircraft potentially transporting the technical crew and equipment.
The prolonged grounding of the F-35B, a fifth-generation stealth fighter renowned for its advanced sensors and networking capabilities, raised questions about the reliability of such high-tech military assets. The incident also incurred significant parking and maintenance costs at the Indian airport, though exact figures remain undisclosed. Social media in India buzzed with AI-generated memes, while the local tourism agency embraced the jet’s unexpected visit as a quirky highlight for the region.
The successful repair and impending departure underscore the complexities of maintaining cutting-edge military technology and highlight the collaborative efforts between the UK and Indian authorities to resolve the issue. The F-35B’s return to service marks a significant milestone for the Royal Navy, which continues to operate the aircraft as a cornerstone of its Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific region, recently engaged in joint exercises with the Indian Navy.
