Thiruvananthapuram: After being grounded for 37 days due to technical issues, the British Royal Navy’s advanced F-35B stealth fighter jet finally took off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Tuesday at around 10:45 am to Darwin Airport in Australia, according to airport officials. Captain Mark, the pilot, departed after receiving clearance from the airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower at 9:30 am.

Before takeoff, Captain Mark expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended to the aircraft and the crew during its month-long stay. “Thank you for hosting Britain’s pride, the F-35B, and for providing all facilities for my friends,” he said.

A British High Commission Spokesperson said, “The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process...We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India.”

The aircraft, part of the UK Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was on a routine sortie over the Arabian Sea on June 14 when it suffered a hydraulic system fault and couldn’t return to the ship. It was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, where it safely landed with assistance from the Indian Air Force, which also provided refuelling and ground support.

READ MORE: ‘Nokku kooli’ to ‘Vellanakalude Nadu’: Stranded British F-35 fighter jet in Kerala becomes meme gold

Following the emergency landing, the fighter jet remained parked in the open for several days during Kerala’s monsoon season, even becoming the subject of viral memes and social media banter. The Kerala Tourism Department led the trend with a cheeky post on X, "Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave," accompanied by an image of the rain-soaked jet.

Other organisations like Milma, Kerala Police, and the State AIDS Control Society joined in, turning the stranded jet into an unexpected internet star.

READ MORE: F-35 repair works top secret, guarded by British soldiers; Indian security personnel restricted

Eventually, the jet was moved into the Air India hangar at the airport, where a technical team from the UK Royal Air Force was flown in to carry out the necessary repairs. After resolving the fault and completing all performance checks, the F-35B successfully departed on Tuesday, reportedly en route back to the United Kingdom.