UK F-35 fighter jet still stranded in India: Has Kerala tourism board’s joke landed well?

The British Royal Navy’s F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet is still stranded in Kerala.

It was grounded on June 14 and is still stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Although the fighter jet is said to be stuck due to an engineering problem, the state’s tourism department believes there may be another reason for its extended stay.

Kerala Tourism used the moment to share a witty, playful jab that has now gone viral on social media.

So, what exactly did Kerala Tourism say? And why hasn’t the jet taken off yet?

Let’s take a look:

Kerala Tourism’s playful jab at stranded British F-35 fighter jet

The F-35B Lightning , one of Britain’s most advanced fighter jets, is built to fly at 1.6 times the speed of sound, dodge enemy radar using electronic warfare, and shoot down rival jets with guided missiles and a 25mm cannon.

There’s one thing Britain’s most advanced warplane has not managed to do yet: take off from Kerala.

More from Explainers

Will UK dismantle and airlift the F-35B jet that has been stranded in Kerala for 3 weeks? UK says 'grateful' to India as its engineers begin repair of stranded F-35B fighter jet in Kerala

Eighteen days after it landed at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Tourism has finally shared its own reason for the jet’s prolonged halt.

After nearly three weeks of global curiosity and memes on social media, Kerala Tourism on Wednesday shared a post saying, “Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave. #F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism”.

The post included an AI-generated image showing the F-35 jet surrounded by Kerala’s well-known coconut palm trees, hinting that the fighter jet, too, might be charmed by the state’s beauty like so many tourists.

Kerala Tourism also gave a nod to the satirical platform Fauxy, from where it drew the idea, and wrote, “Thank you”.

Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave.

Thank you, The Fauxy.#F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism pic.twitter.com/3lei66a5T2

— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) July 2, 2025

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

While the message promoted tourism, many saw it as a cheeky comment on the jet’s unexpected long stay.

The post quickly won hearts online, with several users calling it “epic” and applauding Kerala Tourism’s sense of humour.

A third added, “Brilliant campaign. I wish other states also follow and come up with such campaigns.”

Why UK’s F-35B jet landed in Kerala initially

The F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was flying roughly 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast when poor weather and low fuel forced it to make an emergency landing.

On the night of June 14, the United Kingdom Royal Navy’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jet landed unexpectedly at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

After declaring an emergency, the aircraft was tracked and identified by the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which then cleared the jet for landing, the IAF said in a statement.

The stealth fighter touched down safely at around 9:28 pm and was moved to a remote section of the airport.

That same night, a Royal Navy AW101 Merlin helicopter brought in a team of technicians and a replacement pilot to inspect the aircraft.

However, it was later decided to wait for a specialist team from the UK before attempting further action.

Why is it still stranded? What happens next?

Reports say the fighter jet remains grounded due to an ongoing technical issue.

Currently stationed at Bay No. 4 of the airport and guarded by CISF, the aircraft is waiting for a 40-member team of experts from the UK and the US. This team, which includes technicians from Lockheed Martin, is expected to arrive on a C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying the necessary tools.

A spokesperson for the British High Commission said on Friday that the aircraft would be moved into a hangar once the engineering crew arrived with the right equipment.

All repair plans, timelines, and communication between Indian and British officials are being kept confidential.

Further, flight tracking data linked to the emergency landing has been taken down from public websites.

The F-35B is among the world’s most advanced fighter jets. It can take off in short distances, land vertically, and is equipped with cutting-edge sensors, mission systems, and stealth features that allow it to operate in hostile environments while avoiding detection.