British Royal Airbus Air Force A400M Atlas aircraft landed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday, bringing with it an expert team of engineers from the United Kingdom and the United States to repair the grounded F-35B fighter jet that has remained stationed at the airport since June 14.
The team, comprising around 20 personnel including engineers from Lockheed Martin, arrived to carry out on-site inspections and explore options for restoring the aircraft to operational status. The F-35B, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighters, was forced to make an emergency landing last month due to technical issues and adverse weather over the Indian Ocean.
The engineers will initially attempt to repair the jet where it currently stands—bay number four of the domestic terminal. If that proves unworkable, the team may tow the aircraft to the hangar for a more controlled repair environment. As a last resort, parts of the jet could be dismantled and airlifted to the UK or US for further examination and repair. A final decision will be made following the team’s detailed inspection.
Since its emergency landing, the F-35B has drawn considerable public and media attention. Kerala Tourism even posted a tongue-in-cheek message on social media—“Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave”—which quickly went viral and inspired a flood of memes online.
Security around the aircraft remains tight, with CISF personnel deployed continuously to secure the site.
This is the first known emergency landing of an F-35B in India, and its repair operation is being closely watched as a logistical and technical challenge involving international coordination and high-end military aviation technology.
