U.K. Engineers Arrive in India to Revive Stranded Royal Navy F-35B

U.K. engineers have arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in southern India to assess and repair a Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that has been stranded at the civilian airport for nearly three weeks.

The F-35B Lightning II, among the U.K.’s most advanced combat aircraft, was forced to land in Kerala following an emergency diversion. Since then, it had remained parked in the open, guarded by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Concerns were raised about the aircraft being exposed at a public airport, especially given the sensitive technology on board and India’s ties to both the U.K. and Russia.

The aircraft has now been moved into a hangar at the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, where British engineers are conducting a detailed technical inspection.

“A U.K. engineering team has deployed to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to assess and repair the U.K. F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion,” a British High Commission spokesperson said.

“The U.K. has accepted the offer of a space in the MRO facility… [and] remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams.”

No official details have been released about the cause of the diversion or the exact nature of the repairs needed. Officials indicated that the preferred outcome is to restore the jet’s ability to take off on its own. If that’s not possible, it may be partially dismantled and flown out aboard a C-17 Globemaster.

The presence of the F-35B at a civilian airport quickly attracted attention, both for its rarity and the security implications. The situation even drew light humor from Kerala’s tourism department, which posted a photo of the jet on X with palm trees in the background, captioned: “Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave.”

British engineers have brought in specialized equipment for the inspection and repair. The timeline for the jet’s departure remains unclear.