The jet belongs to the aircraft carrier group of the UK’s Prince of Wales, which is presently stationed in the Indo-Pacific region and has recently carried out joint exercises with the Indian Navy.
New Delhi: A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet executed an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala late Saturday night after depleting fuel during a sortie over the Indian Ocean.
“It is a normal occurrence for the F-35 to divert. The IAF is fully informed and has facilitated the aircraft for safety reasons. All necessary assistance is being provided, and the IAF is coordinating with all relevant agencies,” stated the Indian Air Force.
This 5th-generation stealth fighter is part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which is currently active in the Indo-Pacific and has recently concluded joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy.
Military aviation specialists characterize the incident as unusual yet not without precedent. The F-35B variant is specifically engineered for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL), enabling it to operate from aircraft carriers that lack catapult systems. The reasons behind the aircraft’s inability to return to the Prince of Wales remain unclear, although initial reports indicate that adverse weather conditions surrounding the carrier may have hindered a safe landing.
The F-35 program, led by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, is widely considered one of the most sophisticated multirole fighter aircraft platforms currently in operation. The aircraft’s stealth features, electronic warfare capabilities, and data-sharing systems are integral to the modern air strategy of the US, UK, Israel, and NATO.
Neither the UK Ministry of Defence nor Lockheed Martin has provided any statements regarding the details of the emergency landing. As of Sunday morning, the fighter jet is still stationed at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
