British F-35 fighter jet stranded in Kerala airport for 37 days finally flies back

The British F-35 fighter jet that had been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for over a month has finally flown back to the United Kingdom. The fifth-generation stealth aircraft was grounded for 37 days due to a technical glitch that emerged shortly after it landed in mid-June. Airport sources confirmed that the necessary repairs were completed and clearances obtained before the jet took off safely earlier this week.

The jet's extended stay at the civilian airport had drawn attention from aviation enthusiasts and sparked curiosity among passengers. While official details about the fault were not disclosed, British defence personnel had remained stationed in Kerala throughout the repair process. The F-35’s departure marks the end of an unusual episode involving one of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft temporarily housed at a busy commercial airport.