$110 Million British F-35B Jet Stranded in Kerala for 10 Days After Emergency Landing
A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet, worth $110 million, has remained stranded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for ten days following an emergency landing on June 14.
The fifth-generation aircraft, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was forced to land due to low fuel and bad weather. Though initially reported as a precautionary landing, it was later revealed the aircraft suffered a hydraulic failure—crippling systems vital for flight control, landing gear, and maneuverability.
Despite repeated repair attempts by a British technical team, the aircraft remains unfit for takeoff. India’s Air Force and airport authorities extended all necessary assistance, including refuelling and offering to move the jet to a sheltered hangar. However, the Royal Navy declined to relocate the aircraft from its current position on the rain-soaked civilian tarmac.
The situation has drawn considerable public attention, with social media mockingly listing the jet for sale on OLX for $4 million. Defence sources now indicate that if on-site repairs fail, the jet may need to be airlifted back to the UK or the carrier using a military transport aircraft.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35B is known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and stealth technology. It is one of the most advanced combat jets in service with NATO forces. The delay raises logistical and diplomatic challenges as efforts continue to resolve the situation.
