Stranded F-35 in Kerala fixed, set for trial flight today before UK return: Sources

UPDATED: Jul 21, 2025 11:40 IST

The British F-35 fighter jet that has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for over a month due to a technical glitch has finally been repaired and is expected to undergo a trial sortie today, according to airport sources.

Sources said the technical glitch has now reportedly been solved, and the fighter jet is likely to be moved out of the hangar today for the trial flight. The next steps on its return to the United Kingdom will depend on the outcome of this trial.

The team of technicians that arrived earlier this month aboard an RAF A400M Atlas to repair the aircraft is also expected to return to the UK tomorrow, once the aircraft is declared flight-worthy.

The fifth-generation stealth jet, which landed in Kerala on June 14 after being diverted from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales due to bad weather and low fuel, reportedly suffered a hydraulic failure. British engineers have since been working to fix the fault, which affected key components like landing gear, brakes and control surfaces.

The F-35B’s unscheduled and prolonged stay, first parked in the open and later moved into a hangar, has been the subject of much curiosity, memes, and even a cheeky campaign by Kerala’s tourism department thanking the UK for its ‘visit’.

Initially, there were concerns that the jet would need to be dismantled and shipped back on a transport aircraft because of the extent of the hydraulic snag. However, the arrival of a Royal Air Force team with spare parts and equipment aboard an Airbus A400M Atlas on July 6 seems to have turned things around.

The F-35B, built by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced and expensive fighter jets in the world, costing over USD 115 million each. It is designed for short take-offs and vertical landings and is a cornerstone of NATO air power.

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