A team of over 30 personnel from the British Royal Navy is expected to arrive soon in Kerala with spare parts to inspect the grounded F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet that has remained stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport for over a week, sources confirmed on Saturday.
The fifth-generation fighter, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group currently deployed in the Indo-Pacific, made an emergency landing on June 14 due to critically low fuel levels following joint maritime drills with the Indian Navy.
Initial expectations were that the jet would refuel and resume its journey, but a subsequent technical malfunction has since prevented take-off. An earlier dispatched team, airlifted via a Royal Navy helicopter along with a replacement pilot, was unable to rectify the issue despite multiple attempts.
According to sources, the new team will evaluate whether the aircraft needs to be moved to a hangar for further diagnostics, although a final decision is yet to be made. The Royal Navy had previously declined an offer from Air India for hangar space, reportedly due to concerns over exposing the aircraft’s classified technologies.
The F-35B is known for its Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) abilities, enabling operations from aircraft carriers and short airstrips. However, the extended downtime of the aircraft has raised eyebrows, with British defense officials reportedly puzzled by the complexity of the malfunction.
The specific travel schedule of the incoming technical crew is being finalized, and the UK Navy continues to coordinate closely with Indian authorities during the repair efforts.
