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A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet, stranded for over 10 days at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, will soon be moved to an Air India maintenance hangar to shield it from prolonged exposure to tropical weather conditions.
The fifth-generation fighter made an unscheduled landing at the airport during a routine sortie over the Indian Ocean, after encountering a hydraulic system malfunction and subsequently running low on fuel.
Towing Equipment En Route from UK
According to an official statement from the British High Commission in New Delhi, the aircraft cannot be moved without specialist towing gear, which is currently being transported from the UK.
“Without the towing equipment, the F-35B cannot be towed and risks further damage,” a spokesperson said.
“Our request to move the aircraft to the maintenance hangar of Air India has been accepted by the Indian government. We are aware that moving it prematurely can hamper the scheduled maintenance of other aircraft. Hence, we have decided to move the aircraft once the specialist equipment and UK engineering teams arrive, which will minimise disruption.”
International Cooperation and Precautions
The jet’s unplanned stop has drawn interest both locally and internationally, with military analysts highlighting the rare sight of an advanced NATO stealth aircraft on Indian soil. Indian aviation authorities have worked closely with the British defence attaché and security teams to maintain strict access controls around the aircraft.
Sources indicate that the Indian Air Force and Ministry of Civil Aviation were briefed shortly after the incident and have since facilitated temporary security arrangements.
Weather Risks
With the monsoon season active in Kerala, officials had expressed concern that prolonged exposure to humidity and rain could risk corrosion or sensor degradation on the highly sensitive platform. The Air India hangar will now provide shelter until the jet is repaired and cleared for departure.
Background: What Is the F-35B?
The F-35B Lightning II is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the stealth multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and allied nations. It serves aboard the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and represents the cutting edge of British naval air power.
This marks the first known operational grounding of an F-35B in India, and the Indian defence establishment has reportedly taken a keen interest in the handling and logistics involved in its recovery.
What’s Next
The aircraft will be safely relocated once the UK engineering support crew arrives, which is expected within the next 48 to 72 hours, weather permitting. A technical assessment and temporary repair may be carried out at the site before the fighter returns to its carrier platform or designated airbase.
