• Source:JND
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The British F-35B fighter jet, which has been grounded in Kerala since June 14, is being towed from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday. A team of UK aviation engineers was dispatched to the airport to repair the F-35B Lightning jet of Britain’s Royal Navy, which had been stranded after making an emergency landing last month.

The fighter jet was relocated to a designated facility for British engineers to conduct their assessment, airport sources told news agency PTI.

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Earlier in the day, a team of technical experts arrived in Kerala aboard the British Royal Air Force’s A400M Atlas to address the technical issue affecting the aircraft.

A spokesperson from the British High Commission stated that the UK has accepted the offer to transfer the plane to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and confirmed that the aircraft will be transported following standard procedures.

"A UK engineering team has deployed to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion. The UK has accepted the offer of a space in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and are in discussions to finalise arrangements with relevant authorities," a British High Commission spokesperson said.

"In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved following the arrival of UK engineers, who are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process," the spokesperson said.

The statement further expressed the UK’s gratitude for the support and cooperation extended by Indian authorities and airport teams.

About F-35B Fighter Jet

The F-35B Lightning jet, one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets valued at over Dollar 110 million, made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on June 14. British officials explained that the jet was unable to return to its carrier due to rough sea conditions.

A team of engineers from the UK was initially scheduled to arrive on July 2, but the visit was postponed for reasons unknown, according to sources cited by news agency PTI.

Since then, the aircraft has been parked in a bay at Thiruvananthapuram airport and is being guarded by a six-member security team from HMS Prince of Wales.

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The F-35B is the only fifth-generation fighter jet equipped with short take-off and vertical landing capabilities, making it especially suited for operations from smaller decks, austere bases, and naval vessels.