Thiruvananthapuram: After over a month of grounded status, a UK Royal Air Force F-35B stealth fighter aircraft that made an emergency landing in Kerala has now successfully resumed operations. The aircraft, which had been diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14 due to an unspecified technical issue, took off earlier today following extensive repairs and safety assessments.
A spokesperson from the British High Commission confirmed that the aircraft was cleared for flight after a dedicated UK engineering team, deployed to India on July 6, completed all necessary repairs and operational checks.
“The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India.”
The incident had drawn significant interest from defence observers, given the strategic value and limited global deployment of the F-35B, a fifth-generation stealth fighter known for its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities. This marks the first known emergency landing of such an aircraft in India.
