After facing technical difficulties during an emergency landing in Kerala, the state-of-the-art F-35B aircraft is now en route to Darwin.
UK F-35B Fighter Jet Finally Leaves India After Extended Stay
UK F-35B Fighter Jet Finally Leaves India After Extended Stay
A British fighter jet, stranded in India for over five weeks, has finally departed for Australia after repairs.
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A British F-35B fighter jet that had been stuck at Thiruvananthapuram airport in India for more than five weeks has finally taken off for its destination in Australia. The jet, which had been diverted to the airport due to bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean, developed a technical snag that grounded it since mid-June. Once repaired, the aircraft was cleared to fly, according to an airport spokesman who spoke to the BBC.
The F-35B, part of the fleet associated with the HMS Prince of Wales, sparked widespread curiosity and discussion regarding its prolonged stay in a foreign country. Initially, it landed on June 14 but quickly found itself in trouble due to unexpected complications. Engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales had visited to help fix the jet, but were unable to resolve the issue. As a result, the UK Ministry of Defence sent a team of 14 engineers to Thiruvananthapuram to assess and repair it.
Recent updates from the Royal Navy indicate that the HMS Prince of Wales has been conducting joint exercises off the Australian coast, suggesting that the need to relocate the F-35B is tied to ongoing naval operations. There was some speculation that the aircraft might have to be dismantled and transported via a larger cargo plane if repairs had not succeeded.
The F-35B is a highly advanced stealth fighter, known for its remarkable capabilities in short take-offs and vertical landings, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Images of the "lonely F-35B," stationed on the tarmac amid Kerala’s monsoon rains, became fodder for jokes and memes, with many playfully suggesting it might prefer staying in scenic Kerala, famously dubbed "God's Own Country" in tourist literature.
This unusual incident even attracted attention from members of the UK House of Commons, highlighting the jet’s costly $110 million price tag and raising questions about military logistics and technology. Regardless, on Monday, the F-35B left Indian grounds, and it is now officially on its way to support operations in the Pacific region.
A British F-35B fighter jet that had been stuck at Thiruvananthapuram airport in India for more than five weeks has finally taken off for its destination in Australia. The jet, which had been diverted to the airport due to bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean, developed a technical snag that grounded it since mid-June. Once repaired, the aircraft was cleared to fly, according to an airport spokesman who spoke to the BBC.
The F-35B, part of the fleet associated with the HMS Prince of Wales, sparked widespread curiosity and discussion regarding its prolonged stay in a foreign country. Initially, it landed on June 14 but quickly found itself in trouble due to unexpected complications. Engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales had visited to help fix the jet, but were unable to resolve the issue. As a result, the UK Ministry of Defence sent a team of 14 engineers to Thiruvananthapuram to assess and repair it.
Recent updates from the Royal Navy indicate that the HMS Prince of Wales has been conducting joint exercises off the Australian coast, suggesting that the need to relocate the F-35B is tied to ongoing naval operations. There was some speculation that the aircraft might have to be dismantled and transported via a larger cargo plane if repairs had not succeeded.
The F-35B is a highly advanced stealth fighter, known for its remarkable capabilities in short take-offs and vertical landings, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Images of the "lonely F-35B," stationed on the tarmac amid Kerala’s monsoon rains, became fodder for jokes and memes, with many playfully suggesting it might prefer staying in scenic Kerala, famously dubbed "God's Own Country" in tourist literature.
This unusual incident even attracted attention from members of the UK House of Commons, highlighting the jet’s costly $110 million price tag and raising questions about military logistics and technology. Regardless, on Monday, the F-35B left Indian grounds, and it is now officially on its way to support operations in the Pacific region.
