Monsoons, Technical Issues, and an Emergency Landing
The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, when the aircraft, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, encountered extreme monsoon conditions during a routine flight over the Arabian Sea. The weather made a safe vertical landing on the ship’s deck impossible, and the situation was compounded by technical failures involving the hydraulic system and the auxiliary power unit (APU).
This forced an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the Indian state of Kerala. The jet remained parked on the airfield for nearly three weeks before the UK decided to dispatch a specialist engineering team.
The British Response: An A400M, Engineers, and an Air India Hangar
A team of around 40 Royal Air Force (RAF) technicians was dispatched to the site, arriving on July 6 aboard an Airbus A400M Atlas. The fighter was then moved into an Air India MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hangar, allowing repairs to proceed away from the elements and under tight security.
Throughout its stay, the aircraft was guarded by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Indian authorities provided significant support, from securing the hangar space to managing the security detail. The main complication was reported to be initial British reluctance to move the sensitive stealth aircraft into a civilian hangar, a concern that ultimately gave way to practical necessity.
Repaired and Back in the Air
After successful repairs to the hydraulic system and APU, the jet finally took off on July 22, 2025. It headed back to rejoin HMS Prince of Wales, which had since sailed towards Australia to participate in the international exercise Talisman Sabre 25, alongside forces from the US, Australia, and Japan.
In total, the British F-35B spent 38 days on the ground in India. While official figures have not been released, the cost of hangar parking alone was estimated to be as much as £150 per day.
Public Reaction: The F-35 as a Tourism Ambassador
The unusual presence of the high-tech fighter jet in Kerala captured the attention of both the media and the public. Indian social media lit up with jokes, memes, and positive commentary. The state’s tourism board even posted a tongue-in-cheek five-star “review” from the F-35B, which humorously stated: “Kerala is so beautiful, I didn’t want to leave.”
The jet became an unexpected celebrity in southern India—and a surprising ambassador for positive UK-India relations.
Conclusion
The story of the British F-35B in Kerala illustrates the complexity and vulnerability of operating modern combat systems far from their home base. A technical failure on a fifth-generation aircraft, combined with adverse weather and complex logistics, led to a prolonged grounding. Ultimately, however, the operation was a success—a testament to effective international cooperation and improvisation in the field.
Sources: The Aviationist, Times of India, India Today, AP News
