Stranded British F-35B Fighter Jet to Be Moved to Air India Hangar in Thiruvananthapuram
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.
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.
