India: The British Navy’s F-35 fighter jet has been stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram airport for six consecutive days due to an engine failure. The F-35, which took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales amidst the military exercise in the Arabian Sea, landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport last Saturday night due to low fuel.
The plane was scheduled to return from Thiruvananthapuram after refuelling on Sunday, but could not carry out the operation due to mechanical error. A military helicopter and technical team from a British ship arrived to fix the problem and take the plane back. Repairs are still ongoing. It is reported that the fault is in the fighter jet’s hydraulic system.
The aircraft, which had flown at an altitude of 36,000 feet, was unable to return to the ship due to adverse weather conditions and circled several times, to lower the fuel. Technical experts point out that the engine failure occurred because it had to make an emergency landing after running out of fuel. HMS Prince of Wales was in the Arabian Sea for a joint military exercise organized by the Indian Navy and the British Navy.
The British fighter jet, which landed in Thiruvananthapuram with special permission from the Central Government and the Air Force, is parked in Bay No. 4 of the airport. The CISF has put in place heavy security arrangements for the plane. The pilot, Freddy, who arrived to take the plane back, and three technicians are staying at the airport’s emergency medical centre. They can also monitor the plane from here every time.
The British team wants to have a situation where they can observe the plane. The pilot Mike, who brought the plane, is resting in a place at the airport where he could also directly observe the fighter jet. The airport authorities are providing the British with foreign food and other supplies. As per their request, a ground handling agency has also been provided for the plane.
If the fault cannot be fixed, the fighter jet parked in the bay will be shifted to a hanger unit adjacent to the airport. The hangar unit is Air India’s aircraft maintenance centre.
The technology of the American-made fighter jet has not yet been transferred to any other country. Therefore, even if it is moved to the hangar, the repairs will be carried out under special security.