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British and U.S. Technicians Deploy to Kerala to Retrieve Stranded F-35B Jet

A 30-strong team of British technicians accompanied by U.S. experts from Lockheed Martin will inspect the aircraft to prepare it for airlift.

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Overview

  • The F-35B made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14 after reporting critically low fuel and encountering bad weather that prevented its return to HMS Prince of Wales.
  • Initial on-site assessments found serious hydraulic damage and possible engine faults that have prevented the fighter from responding to take-off commands.
  • Royal Navy officials have refused Indian offers to move the jet into a hangar or cover it, citing the need to protect its sensitive technologies.
  • The Indian Air Force is providing ground support and logistical assistance for repair and recovery operations under a bilateral cooperation framework.
  • Teams plan to remove the jet’s wings and expendable equipment before loading it onto a military transport aircraft for airlift out of India.