The F-35B, diverted to India due to bad weather, has undergone necessary repairs and will fly back on Tuesday.
UK’s Stuck F-35B Fighter Jet Set for Takeoff After Five-Week Wait
UK’s Stuck F-35B Fighter Jet Set for Takeoff After Five-Week Wait
A British stealth jet stranded in India for over a month is finally cleared for departure.
A state-of-the-art British F-35B fighter jet, delayed at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in India for over five weeks, is finally slated to take flight on Tuesday. This advanced aircraft was originally diverted to the airport on June 14 after encountering severe weather conditions during a mission in the Indian Ocean and subsequently developed a technical issue.
An airport representative confirmed to the BBC that the aircraft would be "pulled back from the hangar today," although specific technical details were not disclosed. The long delay raised eyebrows, leading to widespread speculation about how such a modern aircraft could remain on foreign soil for so long.
Initially part of the fleet for the HMS Prince of Wales, the fighter jet’s inability to return raised concerns among aviation enthusiasts and officials alike. After engineers from the Royal Navy's flagship attempted repairs but could not resolve the issue, the UK Ministry of Defence sent a specialized team of 14 engineers to the location to facilitate repairs.
Equipped with necessary tools for both repair and transportation, the team arrived with the hope of restoring the jet back to airworthy status. In recent weeks, speculation about the potential disassembly of the jet for transport due to persistent repair issues circulated widely. However, an airport official on Monday confirmed to the BBC that the aircraft is airworthy and scheduled to depart.
The exact flight time remains unclear, alongside details regarding potential refueling stops en route to London or when backup support will arrive to transport the technicians back home. The F-35B, worth approximately $110 million, is renowned for its advanced stealth capabilities and vertical landing features.
Images of the stranded aircraft, often referred to humorously online, have garnered attention as it sat idle, drenched by the monsoon rains of Kerala—a region often celebrated in travel literature as "God's own country." The unusual predicament of the British fighter jet even made its way into discussions in the UK House of Commons, where representatives addressed the matter publicly. As the situation draws to a close, the flight back awaits confirmation and additional logistics.
An airport representative confirmed to the BBC that the aircraft would be "pulled back from the hangar today," although specific technical details were not disclosed. The long delay raised eyebrows, leading to widespread speculation about how such a modern aircraft could remain on foreign soil for so long.
Initially part of the fleet for the HMS Prince of Wales, the fighter jet’s inability to return raised concerns among aviation enthusiasts and officials alike. After engineers from the Royal Navy's flagship attempted repairs but could not resolve the issue, the UK Ministry of Defence sent a specialized team of 14 engineers to the location to facilitate repairs.
Equipped with necessary tools for both repair and transportation, the team arrived with the hope of restoring the jet back to airworthy status. In recent weeks, speculation about the potential disassembly of the jet for transport due to persistent repair issues circulated widely. However, an airport official on Monday confirmed to the BBC that the aircraft is airworthy and scheduled to depart.
The exact flight time remains unclear, alongside details regarding potential refueling stops en route to London or when backup support will arrive to transport the technicians back home. The F-35B, worth approximately $110 million, is renowned for its advanced stealth capabilities and vertical landing features.
Images of the stranded aircraft, often referred to humorously online, have garnered attention as it sat idle, drenched by the monsoon rains of Kerala—a region often celebrated in travel literature as "God's own country." The unusual predicament of the British fighter jet even made its way into discussions in the UK House of Commons, where representatives addressed the matter publicly. As the situation draws to a close, the flight back awaits confirmation and additional logistics.
