India: A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet remains grounded at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport more than 72 hours after it was forced to make an emergency landing. According to reports, the jet has suffered a “technical snag”, forcing it to remain grounded.
The short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jet was part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, currently operating in the Indo-Pacific following a series of joint exercises with the Indian Navy. The aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning after encountering low fuel levels.
A Royal Navy AW101 Merlin helicopter arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram airport a day after the emergency landing to transport the pilot back to the Prince of Wales, indicating that the jet’s return to sea-based operations may take longer than initially anticipated.
