British F-35B fighter jet grounded in Kerala cleared for take-off after month-long repairs

After being grounded for over a month at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet is finally ready to take flight on Tuesday, July 23, 2025.

The aircraft had made an emergency landing on June 14 due to a technical malfunction, and has since been under close examination and repair.

A specialised team of 14 aviation engineers from the US and the UK, including personnel from the British Royal Navy and Lockheed Martin, arrived earlier this month to carry out extensive repairs.

According to sources cited by IANS, the team successfully rectified a fault in the jet’s hydraulic system — the root cause of the issue. A previous round of repairs had failed to resolve the snag, leading to the deployment of the expert team.

Following thorough checks, the aircraft was certified airworthy, and final clearance for take-off was granted by British defence authorities.

The F-35B, known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, is a fifth-generation stealth fighter and part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group. It was returning from joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific when it was forced to land unexpectedly in Kerala.

Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the aircraft’s next destination, though it is expected to either rejoin the HMS Prince of Wales or return directly to the UK.

The rare presence of the advanced combat aircraft on Indian soil triggered widespread curiosity and online commentary, with social media buzzing over its prolonged stay.

The engineering team is scheduled to depart Kerala on Monday evening aboard a special flight, bringing an end to this unusual chapter in international defence cooperation.