A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II stealth jet has been stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, for more than three weeks after making an emergency landing on June 14, 2025. The advanced fighter, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, had to divert due to bad weather and low fuel while conducting exercises in the Indian Ocean. Thankfully, the landing went smoothly, but a hydraulic failure during pre-departure checks has kept it grounded, turning what started as a military incident into a lengthy logistical headache and, surprisingly, a viral sensation online.

Initial efforts by a small British engineering team and the carrier's crew to repair the high-tech aircraft on-site didn’t pan out. This has led to the arrival of a larger team of about 25-40 specialized technicians and engineers from the UK, who are expected to land in Kerala today, July 5th, or tomorrow. Their goal is to thoroughly evaluate the issue and see if on-site repairs are possible. However, given the intricate systems of fifth-generation aircraft, many industry experts believe the F-35B will probably need to be partially taken apart and airlifted back to the UK on a heavy-lift transport aircraft, like a C-17 Globemaster.

The extended grounding has caught a lot of attention, both in India and around the world. Indian authorities, including the Indian Air Force and airport officials, have been providing substantial logistical support, although a previous offer to move the jet to an Indian MRO facility was reportedly turned down due to worries about sensitive technology. Interestingly, the stranded jet has turned into a "meme sensation" on Indian social media, with users creating funny content, including a mock Aadhaar card for the aircraft, and Kerala Tourism cleverly using the situation for promotional purposes, joking that the jet "doesn't want to leave."

While the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group has continued its deployment to Singapore for joint exercises, the grounded F-35B remains a prominent symbol of the intricate challenges associated with operating cutting-edge military assets far from home. The ongoing situation underscores not only the technical complexities of these aircraft but also the diplomatic cooperation and logistical hurdles that arise when unforeseen circumstances compel them to land in foreign territories. All eyes remain on Thiruvananthapuram as the British team prepares to tackle the delicate task of either repairing or repatriating their advanced fighter.