British F-35 fighter jet 's repair underway in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Repair work on the British Royal Navy's F-35B stealth fighter jet has officially begun at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, nearly three weeks after the aircraft made an emergency landing due to adverse weather conditions over the Indian Ocean. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the development on Monday. 

A team of technical experts from the United Kingdom, travelling aboard a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas, arrived in Kerala on Sunday to undertake the repair work. The fifth-generation jet, built by Lockheed Martin, had been grounded at the airport since 14 June.

“The UK engineering team has arrived in India and commenced repairs on the F-35B. The aircraft has been shifted to a secure maintenance hangar. We are thankful for the ongoing cooperation of the Indian authorities,” said the UK MoD in a statement.

To support the repair efforts, a cooling system has been installed inside the second hangar in Chakka, Thiruvananthapuram where the jet is now stationed. British and American technicians are jointly overseeing the maintenance. If the jet cannot be restored on-site, authorities have indicated that it may be dismantled and transported back to the UK using a military aircraft.

The aircraft had to divert to Thiruvananthapuram after being unable to return to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales during a routine sortie outside Indian airspace. The Indian Air Force later confirmed that the airport had been designated as an authorised emergency landing base for such scenarios.

Initial repair attempts by crew from HMS Prince of Wales proved unsuccessful, following which the jet reportedly suffered a hydraulic failure during a refuelling departure attempt. A 25-member technical team from the British Royal Air Force was later deployed to take over the restoration.

The F-35B, which features Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability, is currently housed inside the Air India hangar at the airport. High-level security has been put in place, with personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and British forces stationed around the aircraft.