#aerobd.news : A British F-35B stealth fighter jet from the UK Royal Navy remains grounded in southern India after making an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, 2025. The aircraft was operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales during a deployment in the Indian Ocean under Operation Highmast.

The aircraft was forced to divert from its return to HMS Prince of Wales due to a hydraulic failure that made it unsafe to land on the ship. Running low on fuel, the pilot issued an emergency call and was granted immediate landing clearance by Indian air authorities. The aircraft landed safely at 21:28 IST without incident. No damage to airport infrastructure or injury was reported.

Indian officials said the jet was guided by local air traffic control with “professional coordination and full emergency protocols.”

A British technical team arrived in Kerala on June 18. After inspections, the Royal Navy confirmed that the F-35B has suffered hydraulic system failure, rendering it unflyable for the time being. As of June 24, the aircraft remains stationed in a secure area of the airport, under British supervision. Indian authorities have offered hangar access via Air India, but the UK declined, choosing to manage the jet independently.

Three options are under consideration:

On-site repair followed by take-off,
Sea transport via HMS Prince of Wales or another ship,
Airlift via UK military cargo transport.

The F-35B pilot was evacuated by helicopter and replaced. HMS Prince of Wales continues its operations in the region with its remaining aircraft. The incident has not affected the broader mission under Operation Highmast, which includes 24 F-35Bs and multiple support vessels.

Timeline of Key Events
April 22 HMS Prince of Wales deploys with F-35Bs to Indo-Pacific
June 14 F-35B makes emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram
June 15 Pilot extracted; aircraft secured
June 18 UK engineering team arrives
June 20–24 Hydraulic issue confirmed; recovery options discussed

This emergency landing underscores the growing cooperation between India and the United Kingdom in strategic, logistical, and technical domains. Though not part of a joint exercise, the event has tested real-time interoperability and may help pave the way for future defence collaborations. Defence analysts have called the incident a “stress test for coalition logistics in the Indo-Pacific.”

The UK Ministry of Defence is expected to issue further guidance on the aircraft’s extraction. Sources suggest that if on-site repairs are unfeasible, the jet may be airlifted back or loaded onto a Royal Navy vessel.

Until then, the world’s most advanced short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter sits grounded on Indian soil, an uncommon sight, yet a testament to international military cooperation.

Source: UK MOD, Indian Aviation Officials, Defence Analysts
Image Credit: NDTV