The grounded F-35B stays parked beneath tight safety at Thiruvananthapuram airport, attracting vital public and media consideration. The incident comes within the backdrop of accelerating UK-India defence cooperation and maritime collaboration within the Indo-Pacific.
The British Royal Navy’s F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which made an emergency touchdown at Thiruvananthapuram Worldwide Airport on June 14 (Saturday), has now developed a hydraulic system failure, defence officers confirmed on Friday (June 20). The difficulty has grounded the superior stealth plane indefinitely, and the jet might should be airlifted again to its house base utilizing a army transport plane, they stated.
Plane grounded regardless of preliminary emergency help
The F-35B, which was working from the UK’s plane service HMS Prince of Wales, was conducting routine operations outdoors India’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) when it skilled low gas ranges, prompting a diversion to its designated emergency restoration discipline at Thiruvananthapuram.
Upon touchdown, the Indian Air Drive (IAF) promptly prolonged technical help and refuelling help. Nonetheless, throughout preparations for its return flight, the fighter jet suffered a vital hydraulic failure and couldn’t take off.
1st upkeep try unsuccessful; bigger staff anticipated
A technical staff from the Royal Navy was dispatched to diagnose and resolve the difficulty, however their makes an attempt have been unsuccessful. Now, officers say, a bigger and extra specialised upkeep staff is being mobilised to evaluate whether or not on-site restore is possible.
“If the difficulty can’t be rectified regionally, the plane might should be airlifted again utilizing a army transport plane,” a defence official said.
Indian Air Drive confirms IACCS community monitoring and help
The IAF confirmed the emergency diversion in a submit on X (previously Twitter), noting that the plane was detected and tracked by India’s Built-in Air Command and Management System (IACCS). The F-35B was then granted protected restoration clearance.
“IAF is offering all crucial help for the rectification and subsequent return of the plane,” the power said.
Strategic significance of the incident
The grounded F-35B stays parked beneath tight safety at Thiruvananthapuram airport, attracting vital public and media consideration. The incident comes within the backdrop of accelerating UK-India defence cooperation and maritime collaboration within the Indo-Pacific, the place the HMS Prince of Wales is at the moment deployed as a part of its strategic outreach.