F-35 finally set to depart: World’s most advanced fighter jet may fly out of Kerala tomorrow after month-long delay

The Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, may fly back to the United Kingdom tomorrow, according to reports. The jet has been grounded for over two weeks due to a technical fault, but plans are now in place for its repatriation. A British Royal Air Force technical team had arrived soon after the emergency landing to assess and attempt repairs.

According to airport sources here, the repair works of the jet, part of the UK’s most advanced stealth fleet, were completed.

“It is being brought out of the hangar now. The jet will be brought to our bay, and it will fly back on Tuesday,” a source said.
The exact time of its return is yet to be available, he said to PTI

Besides the landing charge, there was also daily rent and a parking fee for the aircraft at the airport, he said.

Also Read: UK’s stranded F-35B fighter jet moved to Air India

The F-35B had been en route to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales when it encountered severe weather conditions and a critical fuel shortage. The pilot issued an emergency transponder code (SQUAWK 7700) before being directed by the Indian Air Force to land at Bay 4 of the airport, which is typically reserved for VIP aircraft. The IAF later confirmed that the emergency landing was caused by fuel exhaustion, following multiple unsuccessful landing attempts at sea.Since its landing, the aircraft has remained grounded due to a suspected hydraulic system failure. Despite the efforts of an initial team of Royal Navy engineers, the issue could not be resolved, prompting the deployment of a larger, 40-member technical team from the UK, supported by specialists from the United States.

Parking fees

Authorities at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport have confirmed that the UK will incur parking fees for the aircraft, which has been grounded for over two weeks. However, the final decision on the charges will be made by the Union government. While standard parking fees are typically based on an aircraft’s weight, a government official told TOI that, “Given the aircraft’s military status and foreign origin, the dues may be processed through central agencies.”

Also Read: ‘Tukde-Tukde’: Stuck F-35B fighter jet in Kerala to be now flown back into pieces as 40-member engineering team fails to repair

Earlier reports had suggested that the aircraft would need to be dismantled and flown back to UK on Boeing C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft.

F-35 programme

The F-35B is part of the wider F-35 program, which is projected to cost over $2 trillion over its lifetime—making it the most expensive weapons system ever built. It features advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and avionics capabilities and plays a central role in NATO and allied operations from sea and land-based platforms across the world.