NEW DELHI: A British F35B fighter jet, grounded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram airport since June 14 due to a hydraulic system malfunction, is set to depart on Tuesday after successful repairs by a UK technical team including manufacturer representatives.The aircraft, which belongs to the UK navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was forced to land at the city airport during a routine flight when it encountered technical problems preventing it from landing on the ship.The repair work took approximately one week to complete, with technicians addressing the issues in the jet’s hydraulic system before clearing it for departure.Timeline of the British F-35 Aircraft in India:June 14: The Royal Navy’s stealth aircraft, operating with the Carrier Strike Group from HMS Prince of Wales, executed an emergency landing citing fuel concerns and unfavourable weather during standard operations. The IAF assisted in ensuring a secure landing and provided subsequent fuel and logistics assistance.June 15: A formal statement from the IAF confirmed their complete awareness of the situation and their assistance rendered for “safety reasons”. Royal Navy technical personnel from the carrier group attempted repairs unsuccessfully.June 25: Officials from Britain acknowledged ongoing repair efforts whilst expressing gratitude to Indian authorities for their assistance.June 27: British authorities announced plans to transfer the F-35B stealth aircraft to the local MRO facility for necessary repairs.July 6: A specialist British team comprising 21 personnel, including aviation engineers, arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The £85-million aircraft was subsequently relocated from the tarmac to a hangar.July 21: Airport officials confirmed that the sophisticated British F-35B fighter aircraft is scheduled to depart on July 22, following successful repairs, after more than a month’s stay at the airport.
