UK’s stranded F-35B in India ready to fly home after emergency landing and major repairs

A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet, grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since its emergency landing on June 14, is reportedly set to return to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, airport sources said.

The aircraft — part of the UK’s most advanced fighter fleet — was en route to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales when it encountered severe weather and a critical fuel shortage, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency (SQUAWK 7700). The Indian Air Force directed the jet to land at Bay 4, a VIP-designated area of the airport, after failed attempts to land at sea.

Since then, the jet has been grounded due to a suspected hydraulic failure. A small Royal Navy engineering team was initially dispatched but couldn’t complete the repair. A larger 40-member RAF technical team, supported by U.S. specialists, was later sent to carry out complex diagnostics and restoration. According to local sources, repairs are now complete, and the jet is being moved out of the hangar in preparation for takeoff.

“The jet will be brought to our bay and fly back on Tuesday,” a source told PTI, though the exact departure time remains unconfirmed.
The UK is also expected to pay parking, landing, and rental fees for the aircraft’s extended stay, though a final decision on the charges will be made by the Union government. A government official noted that because the aircraft is military and foreign, payment processing will likely go through central agencies.

Initial speculation suggested the jet might need to be dismantled and returned via a Boeing C-17 Globemaster, but successful on-ground repairs have averted that scenario.

The F-35B, a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant, is part of the $2 trillion F-35 program, the most expensive weapons system in history, and serves a critical role in NATO and allied operations.