Why did Britain's stealth fighter jet F-35 make emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram Airport?

A British F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport during the late hours of Saturday. According to reports, the fighter made the landing after running low on fuel. 

 

 

The jet, reportedly which took off from an aircraft carrier, landed safely at the airport around 9.30pm, authorities said. A source in the know of developments said an emergency was declared to ensure a smooth and safe landing. "The pilot reported low fuel and asked for permission to land. Everything was handled quickly and professionally," the source in the know of developments told PTI.

 

The aircraft is currently parked at the airport awaiting clearance from the Centre. The fighter will be refuelled once relevant Central authorities approve it, they said. 

 

According to Britain's Royal Air Force, the F-35 is a multi-role machine and operates alongside the Typhoon. The fighter is capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously, RAF says. The fighter is capable of short take-off and vertical landing, and it can operate from aircraft carriers and in austere environments.

India