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3d ago

Stranded UK F-35B May Fly Home Next Week as Audit Highlights £71 Billion Price Tag

UK engineers are racing to finish repairs in Kerala before the jet’s anticipated departure next week

British Royal Navy fighter jet, stranded for about a month due to a technical issue, is being moved to a designated facility at Thiruvananthapuram airport for assessment by British engineers.
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A British F-35B fighter jet, which has been stranded since June 14, 2025 is seen at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, in the southern state of Kerala, India, on June 26, 2025. (AP Photo)
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Overview

  • British and Indian officials say a UK engineering team is conducting detailed fixes in a secured hangar at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport ahead of a planned flight home
  • The F-35B was diverted from HMS Prince of Wales on June 14 after running low on fuel and encountering bad weather, then grounded by hydraulic and technical faults
  • Kerala’s tourism department and social media users have turned the jet’s prolonged stay into viral memes, posting AI-generated five-star reviews and cartoons
  • The UK Ministry of Defence dismissed speculation that the fighter would need dismantling and airlift removal, insisting on-site repairs will restore its flight capability
  • A National Audit Office report warns the wider F-35 programme faces a £71 billion life-cycle cost and mission-capable rates well below Ministry of Defence targets