Maintenance Team Arrives for Support After Weeks Being Grounded

After being stranded in southern India for weeks due to weather and engine issues, a Royal Air Force F-35B fighter is finally getting ready to fly home. Despite being far from home, it got plenty of love from locals and some tourism companies.

The Royal Air Force aircraft has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala since June 14 after engine trouble prevented it from rejoining the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. Weather complications had forced it to divert to India, where it developed additional mechanical issues, reportedly involving its hydraulics.

While stuck on the ramp, the jet drew attention not just from defense officials, but from curious locals and the internet at large. A satirical five-star “review” attributed to the plane was posted by a local tourism board: “Kerala is such an amazing place, I don’t want to leave. Definitely recommend.” The region quickly embraced the aircraft's presence…even as security was kept tight around the stealth jet.

The F-35B is a fifth-generation fighter used by several allied nations and built by Lockheed Martin. The $110 million stealth machine is being guarded around the clock by British military personnel, with support from Indian authorities. Six crew members are assigned to monitor the jet while accommodations and meals are being provided on-site.

On July 6, nearly a month after the jet was grounded, a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M transport aircraft delivered a team of 25 UK engineers to Kerala to begin repairs. Once they arrived, the F-35 was moved to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility for servicing. If the jet can’t be fixed on-site, it may have to be partially disassembled and flown back to the UK aboard a heavy-lift aircraft.

In the meantime, the aircraft’s popularity only continues to grow. AI-generated images and fake online listings have circulated, with one mock ad offering it for $4 million “lightly used.” One cartoon showed the plane lounging under palm trees with locals, snacking on banana chips and sipping cocktails.

Military aircraft like the F-35 rarely experience public mechanical breakdowns, and secrecy around them is standard protocol. For now, it remains grounded in Kerala, and the jokes, memes, and curiosity continue to pile up as engineers work to get it home.

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk