New Delhi: British Royal Navy’s Lightning II stealth fighter jet, F-35 remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for more than 12 days due to low fuel and poor sea conditions, after it made an emergency landing on the night of June 14. The British High Commissioner in Bengaluru issued a statement saying that the aircraft developed an “engineering issue” which delayed its return.
“A UK F-35 aircraft was unable to return to HMS Prince of Wales due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, where it landed safely. The aircraft subsequently developed an engineering issue whilst on the ground which precluded its return to the Carrier,” the High Commission said, as quoted by NDTV.
It further said that engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the aircraft and it was decided that a UK based engineering team was needed for the repair work. “At this time, we do not have a forecast for the aircraft being repaired.”
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Jet diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
The jet valued at over US $110 million, aboard HMS Prince of Wales was carrying out routine sorties in the Indian Ocean when the pilot encountered descending fuel reserves and adverse weather almost 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast. Declaring an emergency, the aircraft was safely diverted to the designated recovery site at the airport, with full coordination by the Indian Air Force and Thiruvananthapuram Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Parked under the supervision of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the F-35B was joined by technicians airlifted from the carrier on the same night to begin initial repairs. Initial assessments have, however, suggested a swift turnaround by June 16 but an ensuing hydraulic system failure halted all departure plans.
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In response to this situation, a specialist team comprising 40 UK engineers and spare parts was dispatched to India to conduct deeper diagnostic work. Discussions arose about moving the jet into an MRO hangar to expedite repairs without interrupting airport operations but British officials have reportedly declined an initial offer from Air India. Concerns over safeguarding the aircraft’s stealth technology were the driving factor. As of today, no firm timeline for re-flight has been announced.
