Thiruvananthapuram: A British F-35B stealth fighter jet that has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala for more than five weeks is finally set to take off on Tuesday, according to airport authorities.
The jet, part of the HMS Prince of Wales carrier fleet, was diverted to the Indian airport on 14 June after encountering bad weather during a sortie over the Indian Ocean.
It subsequently developed a technical snag that kept it stranded, drawing widespread public attention and sparking speculation over the aircraft’s fate.
“The F-35B is scheduled to be pulled out from the hangar today and is expected to depart on Tuesday,” an airport spokesperson confirmed.
Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-35B is a state-of-the-art stealth aircraft valued at approximately $110 million (£80 million). Known for its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities, the aircraft’s extended stay in Kerala amid the region’s intense monsoon prompted jokes and memes on social media.
Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave.
Thank you, The Fauxy.#F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism pic.twitter.com/3lei66a5T2
— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) July 2, 2025
The jet, soaked and solitary on the tarmac, was dubbed the “lonely F-35B” by observers, with some quipping that it didn’t want to leave the picturesque Indian state often referred to as “God’s Own Country.”
Following multiple unsuccessful attempts by Royal Navy engineers to fix the jet, the UK Ministry of Defense dispatched a 14-member technical team equipped with specialist gear to the site earlier this month.
Details regarding its return route, including refueling stops and logistics for transporting the repair team and their equipment back to the UK, are yet to be disclosed.
The unusual incident even reached the UK Parliament, where questions were raised about the prolonged grounding of one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets on foreign soil.
