British F-35B Fighter Jet Remains Grounded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport Due to Hydraulic Issue

A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet continues to remain grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, three days after it made an emergency landing on June 14 due to a suspected hydraulic system malfunction, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

The advanced stealth aircraft was operating from the UK’s aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, and was on a routine mission outside Indian airspace when it developed a technical fault mid-flight. The jet was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, which had been pre-designated as an emergency recovery site for such contingencies.

The pilot safely executed the emergency landing without any reported damage or injuries. However, despite the initial safe touchdown, technical teams are still working to identify and rectify the root cause of the malfunction, believed to be linked to the jet’s hydraulic system.

The fifth-generation combat aircraft, known for its cutting-edge stealth and vertical landing capabilities, remains under inspection on the airport tarmac. Local authorities and airport operations continue to function normally, with security arrangements in place around the grounded jet.

This marks a rare instance of an advanced NATO combat aircraft making an emergency landing on Indian soil, underscoring both the complexities of modern military aviation and the importance of coordinated international protocols for in-flight emergencies.