F-35B Fighter Jet Remains Grounded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport After Hydraulic Malfunction

Thiruvananthapuram: The British Navy's state-of-the-art F-35B fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport during a joint military exercise, remains grounded due to a critical hydraulic system malfunction. The aircraft, manufactured by the American defense giant Lockheed Martin, encountered technical difficulties mid-exercise, forcing an unscheduled landing.
A seven-member expert team arrived at the airport by helicopter at 7 AM on Tuesday to assess and repair the issue. Despite extensive inspections throughout the day, the malfunction remains unresolved. Further diagnostic efforts are expected to continue on Wednesday.
An earlier team, comprising three engineers and the aircraft’s pilot, had reached the site on Sunday to conduct preliminary checks. However, after failing to fix the problem, the Royal Navy dispatched an additional team including Indian Air Force engineers for advanced assistance.
Sources indicate that the aircraft will return to the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, currently anchored around 100 nautical miles off the Indian coast, once the technical fault is resolved.
Meanwhile, a new pilot, identified as Freddie, has arrived to replace the original pilot Mike, who has since returned to base. The incident occurred during a joint military exercise involving the Indian Navy and British Royal Navy in the Arabian Sea. The aircraft had initially attempted to return to the carrier after fuel levels dropped, but was forced to request an emergency landing due to adverse weather conditions that made a sea landing unsafe.
This marks a rare emergency intervention involving a fifth-generation fighter jet on Indian soil, drawing attention to the complex logistics and risks involved in international military collaborations.