After more than five weeks stuck at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the F-35B, which was diverted due to bad weather, is confirmed airworthy and ready to fly.
UK’s Stuck F-35B Fighter Jet Set for Departure After Five Weeks in India
UK’s Stuck F-35B Fighter Jet Set for Departure After Five Weeks in India
A British F-35B jet will finally take off on Tuesday after being stranded in India since mid-June.
The state-of-the-art F-35B fighter jet, a part of the HMS Prince of Wales fleet, has been in India since June 14, when it was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport after encountering severe weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean. Following a technical snag, the fighter jet became grounded, which raised questions about the reliability and repair capabilities of such advanced technology when faced with unexpected circumstances.
Engineers from the Royal Navy arrived to fix the aircraft after its initial troubleshooting failed. To manage the situation, the UK Ministry of Defence dispatched a team of 14 specialists equipped with the necessary tools for repair to assist the local efforts at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
As speculation mounted regarding the fate of the F-35B, including the possibility of dismantling it for transport back to the UK, news emerged that the jet was confirmed airworthy as of Monday. An airport official indicated the aircraft would be pulled from the hangar imminently, although details regarding its refueling stop en route to London remain undisclosed.
The stranded F-35B, often humorously referred to as "the lonely F-35B,” became a fleeting celebrity within the vibrant cultural backdrop of Kerala, India, inspiring memes and jokes during its stay—drawing public interest and concern alike over the complications of maintaining high-tech military equipment abroad.
The case of the trapped $110 million fighter jet even sparked discussions in the House of Commons, capturing the imagination of many. With confirmation of its readiness to depart, aircraft enthusiasts and military observers alike are eagerly awaiting the jet's flight back to the UK.
Engineers from the Royal Navy arrived to fix the aircraft after its initial troubleshooting failed. To manage the situation, the UK Ministry of Defence dispatched a team of 14 specialists equipped with the necessary tools for repair to assist the local efforts at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
As speculation mounted regarding the fate of the F-35B, including the possibility of dismantling it for transport back to the UK, news emerged that the jet was confirmed airworthy as of Monday. An airport official indicated the aircraft would be pulled from the hangar imminently, although details regarding its refueling stop en route to London remain undisclosed.
The stranded F-35B, often humorously referred to as "the lonely F-35B,” became a fleeting celebrity within the vibrant cultural backdrop of Kerala, India, inspiring memes and jokes during its stay—drawing public interest and concern alike over the complications of maintaining high-tech military equipment abroad.
The case of the trapped $110 million fighter jet even sparked discussions in the House of Commons, capturing the imagination of many. With confirmation of its readiness to depart, aircraft enthusiasts and military observers alike are eagerly awaiting the jet's flight back to the UK.
