British Navy’s F-35 Fighter Jet Stranded in Thiruvananthapuram Kerala
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A British Royal Navy F-35 B Lightning II fighter plane made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala, on 14 June 2025 due to low fuel and adverse weather conditions. The monsoon has become active in Kerala, and it is experiencing heavy rainfall and rough sea conditions along the Arabian Sea coast.
The F-35 B Lightning II took off from the United Kingdom’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, which is stationed around 100 nautical miles off the Kerala Coast in the Arabian Sea.
The HMS Prince of Wales is part of the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group, comprising HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond, which participated in Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Indian Navy on 9 & 10 June 2025, in the North Arabian Sea.
Case of the F-35 B Lightning II
The F-35 B Lightning II took off from HMS Prince of Wales on 14 June 2025 and was conducting a routine exercise outside the Indian Air Defence Identification Zone.
The plane's pilot sent a distress signal to India, as it was unable to land on the ship due to adverse weather conditions. When the fuel tank of the plane became low, the pilot asked permission to land.
The Indian Air Force Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) safely guided the plane to the nearest Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where the plane had been parked.
The Indian Air Force has provided the plane with all logistics, food, and other facilities, and it is under heavy security.
The British technicians from the Carrier Strike group were unable to repair the plane's hydraulic system, so it is expected to be carried back to the United Kingdom for repair on board the Royal Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III.
About the F-35 Fighter Plane
The F-35 is a single-engine stealth fighter plane built by Lockheed Martin of the United States of America. It is a fifth-generation stealth plane that will replace the U.S. Air Force F-16s and A-10s, U.S. Navy F/A-18s, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s, and U.K. Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers. The plane has been sold to American allies, and it has also been offered to India.
However, the United States has not shared its technologies with any of its allies.
The F-35 is one of the most expensive aircraft in the world, with a price tag of around $110 million per plane, including the support structure.
India-UK Passex Exercise
The Indian Navy conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group on 9 and 10 June 2025.
The Indian Navy deployed its stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and its long-range maritime reconnaissance patrol aircraft P8I.
The British Carrier Strike Group, which includes its flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and frigate HMS Richmond, took part in the PASSEX.
Both the navies conducted anti-submarine warfare exercises that included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck helicopter control, and officer exchanges to boost friendly relations between the two navies.
