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.