 "After emergency landing over 10 days ago, why UK’s $110-million F-35B jet remains stranded in Kerala")
The British Royal Navy’s F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet remains stranded in Kerala, nearly two weeks after it made an emergency landing. Built by the US-based Lockheed Martin, the aircraft is worth more than $110 million.
The fighter jet continues to be grounded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. This is the first time that the British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter has been stranded in a foreign country.
Let’s take a closer look.
Why UK’s F-35B jet made emergency landing
On the night of June 14, the United Kingdom Royal Navy’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Defence officials told ANI that the aircraft was running low on fuel. It also faced bad weather as the jet was flying about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, leading to the pilot onboard the aircraft seeking permission to land at the civilian airport in the southern state, reported the Independent.
The jet declared an emergency and was detected and identified by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which cleared it for recovery, IAF said in a statement.
“A Royal Navy F-35B fighter was recovered following an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of June 14. The IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft,” it posted on X.
A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 15, 2025
Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram
earmarked… pic.twitter.com/gL2CQcuJc7
The stealth aircraft landed safely around 9:28 pm at the Kerala airport and was shifted to an isolated bay. The advanced fifth-generation fighter jet is reportedly part of the UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The IAF helped with refuelling the stealth aircraft. However, the jet encountered hydraulic failure during its attempted return, defence officials told ANI.
What was the aircraft doing near India?
The F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet was carrying out sorties in the Indian Ocean from HMS Prince of Wales.
The jet was “undertaking routine flying outside of the Indian Air Defence Identification Zone” when it faced problems and Thiruvananthapuram was “earmarked as the emergency recovery field”, the IAF said.
The night the fighter jet touched down in Kerala, a Royal Navy AW101 Merlin helicopter arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram airport with technicians to examine the plane. It also ferried a replacement pilot. However, it was decided to keep the jet grounded until the assistance of a British specialist team.
#UPDATE | A few days ago, the F-35 fighter jet of the UK Navy had made an emergency landing due to low fuel, after which the Indian Air Force had provided all required support, including refuelling. However, when the aircraft was going back, it developed a hydraulic failure and… https://t.co/nfwvoerz29
— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025
“A maintenance team of the UK Navy had come and tried to rectify the problem, but could not,” ANI quoted a statement by defence officials.
Why the British jet remains stranded after over 10 days
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is guarding the British aircraft, which remains parked at an open area near the domestic terminal amid concerns about monsoon rains.
As per an Onmanorama report, a 40-member expert team from the UK is expected to arrive soon to carry out repairs on the F-35B jet.
The team will take a call on whether to move the aircraft to a hangar for inspection or not. India had reportedly offered to move the jet to a hangar or temporary shed. However, this was declined by the Royal Navy. As per NDTV sources, the decision was likely due to concerns over F-35B’s “protected technologies”.
A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Delhi told The Independent: “We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support.”
If necessary, the plane could be flown back aboard a military transport aircraft.
One of the most advanced fighter jets, the UK Royal Navy’s F-35B has short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. It also boasts state-of-the-art technology, including sensors, mission systems and stealth features that enable it to operate in hostile conditions while evading detection.
With inputs from agencies
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