UK Navy's F-35B Grounded In Kerala Since 14 June Nears Departure As Repairs Enter Final Stage: Report

An expert team of engineers from the UK has nearly completed maintenance on the Royal Air Force’s grounded F-35B fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, reported The Hindu.

The aircraft, which made an emergency landing on 14 June due to technical glitches, has remained grounded since then.

The team began repairs on 6 July and has already refuelled the jet as part of inspecting the operational efficiency and mandatory safety checks.

The aircraft also needs clearances from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence before it can fly back to the UK.

While UK authorities have not given any official update on the maintenance timeline or the jet’s exact departure date, officials expect it to return to its base station in the UK in the fourth week of July.

The UK team had also applied for a one-month Aerodrome Entry Permit (AEP), which grants security clearance to access restricted airport zones.

As part of the repair process, the engineers towed the jet to the hangar, where entry for Indian staff has been strictly restricted.

Once maintenance concludes, they will move the aircraft to the airside of the airport to prepare for departure.

Equipment and personnel flown in from the UK will return before the jet leaves Kerala, concluding a high-profile episode that drew significant local media attention.

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