- By Chetna Shree
- Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:36 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The UK has granted permission to move the British F-35 fighter jet to the airport hangar after two weeks of denial. The fighter jet was stranded in Kerala since June 14 after it made an emergency landing due to a technical snag. The fighter jet will be moved to the hangar once engineering teams from the UK arrive with specialist equipment.
Earlier, the UK refused to shift F-35B as they did not want others to take a closer look at the protected technologies of the fighter jet, NDTV reported.
British Officials' Statement About Moving The Aircraft To Hangar
“A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport,” the British High Commission spokesperson said.
“The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to the scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,” the spokesperson added.
Air India offered British officials a parking space in the hangar of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, but the UK declined the offer.
The fighter jet is a part of the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group deployed to the Indo-Pacific. The F-35B was returning to its base after completing a joint maritime exercise with the Indian Navy when it had to make an emergency landing. The aircraft reported low-fuel levels. It was expected to take off after the aircraft was refuelled, but the aircraft suffered technical snag.
“The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support,” the high commission said.
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Unique Feature Of The F-35B Fighter Jet
F-35B is an American-made supersonic stealth fighter jet of the fifth generation and also one of the most advanced stealth fighters in the world. The F-35B fighter jet was developed by Lockheed Martin. The stealth technology, like special radar coating on aircraft and very few hardpoints, makes the F-35B difficult to detect by enemies.
It has a radar cross section of 0.005 metres square, resembling the size of a golf ball. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in its report, “it would take at least $1.7 trillion to purchase, operate and sustain the aircraft in its 66-year life cycle due to high maintenance costs "and developmental delays.”
