British stealth jet's long vacation: How much did it cost UK to park its F-35 in Kerala for over a month?

A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet that made an emergency landing in Kerala over five weeks ago finally left on Tuesday. The advanced stealth aircraft, worth over $110 million, had remained grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14, attracting both public curiosity and global headlines. But beyond the diplomatic and technical aspects, the question many are asking is: how much did the UK end up paying to keep its warplane parked in India for more than a month?

Why the jet landed and stayed

The F-35B, operated by the British Royal Navy and part of the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group, made an emergency landing on June 14 due to a combination of low fuel and bad weather. The aircraft, flying 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, diverted to the civilian airport at Thiruvananthapuram with assistance from the Indian Air Force (IAF).

While initial refuelling support was provided, a hydraulic failure during its attempted departure led to an extended grounding. The jet was parked at Bay No. 4 of the domestic terminal, guarded by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

India reportedly offered to move the jet to a hangar due to concerns about the approaching monsoon, but the UK initially resisted, perhaps due to security or logistical concerns.

The repair mission

It wasn't until July 6 -- nearly three weeks later -- that a 24-member team from the British Royal Air Force arrived with specialist equipment aboard a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M. This included 14 technical experts tasked with repairing the jet and 10 supporting crew members.

After inspecting the aircraft, the team concluded that the auxiliary power unit had suffered major snags. The plane was then moved to Air India’s maintenance hangar, and work commenced under high security. British officials maintained secrecy throughout the repair operation, restricting access even within the hangar zone.

Fortunately, the maintenance was completed last week, avoiding the worst-case scenario of dismantling the aircraft and airlifting it aboard a heavy transport plane like the C-17 Globemaster.

The parking bill: A costly delay

While India extended logistical support, the UK wasn’t spared the financial cost of an extended layover.

According to figures reported by Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), the daily parking fee for the F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram airport is Rs 26,261. Over a period of 35 days, this amounts to approximately Rs 9.19 lakh (about £8,600 or $11,000).

Additionally, Air India Engineering Services Ltd, which owns the hangar, is expected to charge the UK separately for the use of its facility since July 6. The hangar rental charges haven’t been made public but are expected to be significantly higher than open tarmac parking.

Beyond the costs: An unlikely tourism mascot

What began as an emergency landing soon became a spectacle. The rare presence of an F-35B, a fifth-generation stealth fighter not operated by India, captured public imagination. The aircraft inadvertently served as a promotional mascot for Kerala, with many on social media calling it the state’s “most high-tech tourist.”

Airport staff, aviation enthusiasts, and even curious tourists gathered frequently to catch a glimpse of the jet, despite restricted access.