25 member UK team to assess stranded F-35 Jet in Kerala today: Repair or repatriate decision soon

25-member UK team to assess grounded F-35 jet In Kerala

A team of around 25 British aviation engineers is expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to assess the grounded F-35B fighter jet of the UK’s Royal Navy, which has remained at the city’s airport since making an emergency landing nearly three weeks ago.

The jet, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, diverted to Thiruvananthapuram on June 14 due to adverse weather and low fuel while operating about 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The Indian Air Force facilitated its safe landing and provided refuelling and logistical support.

During pre-departure checks, a critical hydraulic fault was detected, raising concerns about the jet’s ability to take off and land safely. A small Royal Navy team attempted to fix the issue but was unsuccessful due to the complexity of the problem.

The aircraft has remained parked at Bay 4 under CISF protection. Initially, the British Navy declined Air India’s offer to move the jet into a hangar despite ongoing monsoon rains but later agreed.

The incoming engineering team will determine whether the jet can be repaired in India or must be dismantled and transported back to the UK. India had earlier offered assistance through the nearest Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) facility.