Kerala airport to charge parking fees for UK’s ‘Made In US’ F-35 stealth jet; amount is Rs…, towed to…
The ‘Made in US’ British F-35 fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and was parked there for the past 22 days, was shifted from its grounded position to the hangar on Sunday. The fighter jet was moved after a team of aviation engineers from the UK arrived at the airport to repair the jet, which belongs to the Royal Navy. But did you know that Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is going to charge for the F-35, as it was parked in a space reserved for VIP aircraft?
F-35 Fighter Jet Stranded: What Is The Parking Fee for The Stranded British Jet?
As per reports, the fighter jet was stationed at Bay No. 4. The bay was closely monitored and guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force. It is estimated that the single-day parking fee of an F-35 fighter jet is around Rs 26,261, as per the Indian Defence Research Wing. So, the parking fee for the 22 days must be around Rs 5,77,742.
However, the British officials rejected Air India’s offer to move the F-35 fighter jet to the hangar. The jet was moved to the hangar after 22 days when UK aviation engineers arrived at the airport.
However, reports said that the exact fee structure has not been finalised by the airport authorities and there is a possibility that the Indian government cover the costs.
F‑35 Fighter Jet Stranded: Is It The First Time The Jet Has Been Stranded Abroad?
An unprecedented event occurred when a cutting-edge fighter jet, valued at $110 million, experienced a mechanical failure requiring an extended stay overseas. A six-person team from the HMS Prince of Wales provided security during the jet’s immobilization. Despite multiple repair attempts, the aircraft ultimately needed to be towed to a hangar.
F‑35 Fighter Jet Stranded: How Did It Happen?
Notably, the fighter jet is a part of UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group. It took off from a British aircraft carrier approx 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast. The Made in US fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala airport on June 14 due to extreme weather and low fuel levels.
A British Royal Air Force team of technicians arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to inspect an F-35 fighter jet. Images released by ANI show the aircraft being moved to a hangar.
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