‘I don’t want to leave’: Stranded British F-35 fighter jet in Kerala becomes meme star

Trust Keralites to find humour in everything. Even a stranded British fighter jet hasn’t been spared. Ever since the Royal Navy’s F-35 made an emergency landing in Kerala’s capital of  Thiruvananthapuram on June 14, social media has been buzzing with memes.

Grounded in the southern Indian state due to technical issues, the jet’s unexpected and prolonged stay for repairs has become a source of amusement — and an unlikely tourism campaign. Kerala Tourism shared an AI-generated image of the jet surrounded by coconut palms, captioned: “Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave.”

“This was part of our tourism campaign. It has been one of the most innovative and eye-catching ones… It’s all in good humour and creativity,” said Biju K., the state’s tourism secretary, told Reuters.

The viral image, originally created by satire site The Fauxy, shows the jet giving Kerala five golden stars and calling it “an amazing place.” It adds: “I don’t want to leave. Definitely recommend.”

Online, jokes keep flying. Some quip that the jet now qualifies for Indian citizenship; others say rent should be charged — or that the Kohinoor diamond would make suitable payment.

Kerala, which markets itself as God’s Own Country, attracted 22.2 million tourists in 2023 with its scenic coastline, rich culture, and vibrant cuisine.

A spokesperson for the British High Commission confirmed that the UK accepted an offer to move the jet to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. It will be shifted to a hangar once British engineering teams arrive with the necessary tools.

The F-35B, built by Lockheed Martin and worth $110 million, is a cutting-edge stealth aircraft known for its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities.