India: The British F-35 fighter jet, stranded at Kerala Thiruvananthapuram airport for 22 days since making an emergency landing last month, was moved out of the airport premises on Sunday.
A team of technical experts on board the British Royal Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas arrived at Thiruvananthapuram airport today to assess the F-35 jet, news agency ANI reported.
The British F-35B, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was conducting operations 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala when adverse weather and low fuel forced an emergency diversion to Thiruvananthapuram on June 14.
The Indian Air Force facilitated the safe landing and provided refuelling and logistical assistance.
However, when the fighter jet was preparing to return to its carrier, a hydraulic failure was detected during pre-departure checks. The issue is considered serious as it could affect the jet’s ability to take off and land safely.
A small Royal Navy team, including three technicians, attempted to repair the malfunction but was unsuccessful due to the complexity of the problem.
The jet was parked at Bay 4 of the airport under the protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Initially, the British Royal Navy declined an offer from Air India to move the jet into a hangar, despite the monsoon rain in Kerala. Later, the British Navy agreed to move the jet into a hangar.
