Thiruvananthapuram, July 6 — Nearly a month after making an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet has finally been moved to a designated maintenance facility, paving the way for repair work by a specialist UK engineering team that arrived in Kerala on Sunday.
The advanced fighter jet — estimated to be worth over $110 million — had been grounded since June 14 following a technical fault. The aircraft has now been relocated to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) unit, airport sources confirmed.
“A UK engineering team has deployed to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion,” a spokesperson for the British High Commission said in a statement.
According to the spokesperson, the UK accepted India’s offer to house the jet at the MRO facility and is currently finalising arrangements with local authorities. “In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved following the arrival of UK engineers, who are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process,” the statement added.
The arrival of the engineering crew marks a crucial step in resuming the operational readiness of the F-35B, widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated multirole fighter jets in service today. The aircraft had been part of a Royal Navy deployment when it encountered a technical issue mid-flight and was forced to land in Kerala.
While the exact nature of the malfunction has not been disclosed, the extended grounding of the aircraft required diplomatic coordination between Indian and British authorities. Airport officials said the relocation of the fighter to the secure MRO site was completed smoothly ahead of the technical team’s inspection.
The British High Commission expressed gratitude to Indian officials for their cooperation. “The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams,” the spokesperson noted.
With the engineering assessment now underway, repairs are expected to begin soon, though officials have not provided a timeline for the completion of the process or the aircraft’s return to active duty.
