Thiruvananthapuram: A Royal Air Force transport aircraft, Atlas ZM417, touched down in Kerala early Sunday, carrying a 25-member British team of aviation engineers and defence personnel to inspect the stranded of the UK’s Royal Navy
The aircraft has been parked at Bay 4 of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport under round-the-clock CISF security since an emergency landing last month.
The British team, comprising engineers and defence specialists, will examine the technical fault that grounded the and determine whether it can be repaired on-site in India or requires dismantling and airlifting back to the UK. Their arrival follows earlier delays in the visit originally scheduled for July 2.
According to defence officials, the team will coordinate with Indian authorities and access the nearest MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) facility at the airport for possible repair work.
Emergency landing and subsequent complications
The F-35B, valued at over $110 million, was flying 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast as part of operations by the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales when it was forced to land due to a technical snag on .
Though initial repairs were attempted by a small Royal Navy crew on the ground, a hydraulic failure detected during departure checks prevented the fighter from returning to the carrier. Since then, the aircraft has remained under guard by a six-member British security team with support from Indian authorities.
What happens next?
With the British inspection team now on-site, authorities are evaluating options for either:
On-ground repair and test flights
Partial dismantling and airlifting the jet via a C-17 Globemaster or other heavy-lift aircraft
A spokesperson from the British High Commission confirmed coordination with Indian defence and aviation authorities, saying, “We appreciate the cooperation extended by the Indian government and airport authorities. All efforts are being made to restore the aircraft’s operational status swiftly.”
British High Commission further confirmed that a UK engineering team has been deployed to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft, which made an emergency landing earlier. “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,” the spokesperson said. In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved once the UK engineers arrive with the specialist equipment required for its safe movement and repair.
The F-35B, produced by Lockheed Martin, is renowned for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, making it one of the most versatile and advanced aircraft in modern combat fleets. This incident has inadvertently drawn public attention to the stealth jet, with curious onlookers at the airport turning it into an unlikely tourist attraction.
The inspection is expected to continue over the next few days, following which a decision will be made on whether the jet can return to service from India or must be transported back to the UK for repairs.