UK Experts Inspect Fighter Jet Stuck In India For Three Weeks

July 7, 2025: A 14-member team of British engineers has arrived in southern India to assess and attempt repairs on an advanced F-35B stealth fighter jet, which has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala since 14 June.

The $110 million aircraft, which had taken off from the HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, was forced to divert to land in India after encountering bad weather during a training sortie over the Indian Ocean. Shortly after landing, the jet reported a technical snag that prevented it from returning to the carrier.

Initial efforts by engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales to fix the issue proved unsuccessful, prompting the deployment of a specialist team from the UK. On Sunday, the British High Commission confirmed the arrival of the engineering team via a Royal Air Force Airbus, equipped with specialist tools and equipment required for the assessment and repair operation.

Video clips released by Indian media outlets ANI and PTI showed the jet being towed into a hangar at the airport. The UK had earlier accepted India’s offer to shift the aircraft to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, though logistics delayed the move.

The F-35B, developed by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced military aircraft in the world, known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and stealth technology. It is currently under 24-hour guard by six Royal Air Force personnel.

The aircraft’s unexpected and prolonged stay in Kerala has not only attracted global military interest but has also captured public imagination. Images of the jet, soaked in monsoon rains and sitting idle on the tarmac, have gone viral on Indian social media, spawning memes and jokes about how the aircraft has grown fond of the scenic, tropical state often dubbed “God’s Own Country.”

The incident has even reached the UK House of Commons, raising concerns over operational reliability and logistical preparedness. If on-ground repairs fail, experts say the jet may need to be dismantled and airlifted back to the UK using a C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft.

Meanwhile, the situation continues to intrigue defense analysts and the general public alike, highlighting the operational complexities even the world’s most advanced aircraft can face in unpredictable conditions.