A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning-II fighter plane is still grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, following a major hydraulic malfunction shortly after an emergency landing.
The advanced stealth jet had initially diverted to the airport on June 14 after running out of fuel during routine operations outside India’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) while flying from the UK aircraft ship HMS Prince of Wales. The Indian Air Force (IAF) responded quickly by providing technical help and refueling support to aid in the aircraft’s recovery.
However, when the F-35B prepared to depart, it experienced a major hydraulic system breakdown, preventing it from taking flight. An original maintenance team from the UK Navy attempted to resolve the problem but were unsuccessful.
Defence officials have recently stated that a larger, specialised maintenance crew will be dispatched to see whether on-site repairs are possible. If the problem cannot be fixed locally, the aircraft may have to be disassembled and flown back to the UK via a military cargo plane—a costly and logistically difficult process given the F-35B’s advanced equipment and security needs.
The incident has highlighted the strong coordination between Indian and British defence organizations. The IAF, in collaboration with other agencies, continues to provide all required assistance with the aircraft’s safety, maintenance, and future repatriation. The F-35B is still under tight surveillance at the airport as officials await the arrival of the extended maintenance team and further orders from British defence authorities.
