British F-35B Fighter Jet to Be Dismantled and Airlifted from Kerala After Weeks of Grounding
The British Royal Navy’s fifth-generation F-35B fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, is now set to be dismantled and flown back to the United Kingdom after multiple failed repair attempts.
Sources have confirmed that technicians will partially dismantle the stealth jet—most likely by removing its wings—to fit it into a C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft. The move follows weeks of exposure to Kerala’s monsoon and intensive efforts to restore flight capability, all of which proved unsuccessful.
The F-35B, known for its cutting-edge stealth and vertical takeoff capabilities, has drawn significant attention both nationally and internationally during its prolonged stay. The complexity of detaching the wings from such a sophisticated aircraft requires precision and expertise, but experts say there is no alternative.
This won’t be the first time an F-35 is dismantled for transport. In 2019, the US Air Force undertook a similar procedure, and in 2025, South Korea moved a damaged F-35A by road after wing removal.
The British Ministry of Defence is coordinating closely with Indian authorities to ensure safe and secure extraction of the aircraft.
Meanwhile, the episode has triggered a wave of memes and online chatter, with even Kerala Tourism joining in: “Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave. #F35 #Trivandrum.”
