Stranded British F-35B Jet to Depart from Kerala After Month-Long Stay
A British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that has been grounded at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, for over a month is finally ready to fly home. The advanced military aircraft has been at the airport since making an emergency landing on June 14.
The jet, which was operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was conducting a routine flight outside Indian airspace when it required an emergency landing. Thiruvananthapuram was its designated emergency recovery airfield.
Following the landing, the fighter remained parked at the airport until a 14-member engineering team from the United Kingdom arrived on July 6 to conduct repairs and safety assessments. The work was carried out at Air India's Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility. With the repairs now complete, the jet is scheduled to depart on Tuesday.
According to airport sources, the British engineering team will fly back to the UK aboard an Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft, which is scheduled to arrive on the same day as the F-35B's departure.
The month-long, unexpected stay has also incurred significant costs. Airport officials indicated that parking fees for the fighter jet are estimated to be between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 per day. Additionally, there will be landing fees for both the fighter and the transport aircraft, along with charges from Air India for the use of its hangar facility.
The departure will mark the end of an unusual chapter for the airport, which played a crucial, albeit extended, role as a safe haven for one of the world's most advanced military aircraft.
