British engineers begin repair of F-35B fighter jet grounded in Kerala

More than three weeks after its emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, repair work has officially begun on the British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter jet.

The jet, part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group aboard HMS Prince of Wales, had diverted to the airport on June 14 following bad weather and a reported fuel shortage during a sortie over the Indian Ocean.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), a team of engineers from the United Kingdom has now arrived in India aboard a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas to undertake the repair. The fifth-generation stealth fighter has since been moved into a maintenance hangar for the procedure.

Initial attempts to restore the jet on-site by engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales proved unsuccessful. Defence sources later revealed the aircraft suffered a hydraulic failure while attempting to depart after refuelling. The technical complexity of the jet, coupled with the need for proprietary systems and equipment, delayed immediate repair efforts.

"Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities," the UK MoD said in an official statement.

To resolve the issue, a team of 25 technical specialists from the RAF was flown in with advanced tools and diagnostic equipment. Their military transport, the Airbus A400M Atlas, landed in Thiruvananthapuram over the weekend.

The F-35B, also known as Lightning II, was then shifted to the Air India Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility on Sunday for detailed inspection and restoration.

The UK has openly acknowledged India’s role in supporting the repair mission. “We thank the Indian authorities and airport teams for their ongoing assistance,” a British High Commission spokesperson said. “The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration.”

While the start of repair work marks progress, British defence officials have declined to offer further specifics regarding timelines or technical details. “We will not be providing a running commentary on the timelines or detail of repair and maintenance matters or on private discussions with the Government of India,” the MoD added.

The high-profile grounding of one of the UK’s most advanced fighter jets has drawn widespread media attention, especially after weeks of stalled progress.

With the arrival of the specialist team, repairs are expected to move forward, though no firm date for the aircraft’s return to service has been announced.