Britain’s F-35B fighter jet back to the skies. Where is it heading to from Kerala?

More than a month after it made an emergency landing at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet flew to Darwin in Australia. The jet took off at 10.50 am on Tuesday.

 

"A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service," a British High Commission spokesperson said.

 

The spokesperson said the UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process.

 

"We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India," the statement said.

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The jet was brought out of the hangar and kept at the airport bay on Monday.

 

Worth over $100 million, the fifth-generation jet, known to be the world's most advanced fighters, remained grounded at the international airport since June 14 after it developed a technical snag.

 

The aircraft, which took off from HMS Prince of Wales on 14 June, was unable to return to the carrier due to adverse weather conditions. 

 

Prioritising safety, it diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where it landed safely. Subsequently, the aircraft developed an engineering issue whilst on the ground, which temporarily delayed its return to the Carrier Strike Group.

 

 

Defence