Overview
- On June 14, a Royal Navy F-35B declared an emergency due to low fuel and safely landed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after weather prevented carrier recovery
- The stealth fighter was operating from HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group’s joint exercises with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea
- The Indian Air Force coordinated an emergency response, cleared the runway, and provided security and logistical support for the unarmed aircraft
- Refuelling was finished by June 16, but the jet remains parked in an isolated bay under supervision of Royal Navy and IAF engineers
- Investigations into a suspected technical glitch are ongoing and Indian clearance is required before the F-35B can return to carrier operations