British F-35B Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing In Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram Airport After Fuel Shortage

A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for an emergency landing late Saturday night after experiencing a fuel shortage during a sortie over the Indian Ocean, NDTV reported.

"Normal occurence of diversion by F-35. IAF fully aware and facilitated the aircraft for flight safety reasons. All assistance being given, and IAF is in coordination with all agencies," the Indian Air Force said in a statement.

The stealth aircraft is part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific, following recent joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy.

The F-35B’s short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) design allows it to operate from carriers without catapults.

While the exact reason for not recovering aboard the HMS Prince of Wales remains unclear, early indications suggest poor weather conditions around the carrier may have prevented a safe landing, according to the NDTV report.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 programme is considered among the most sophisticated multirole fighter platforms in active service today.

Its stealth tech, EW systems, and integrated data networks make the F-35 key to the air combat doctrines of the US, UK, Israel, and NATO allies.

As of Sunday morning, the jet continued to remain stationed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport.

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