The UK’s F-35B fighter aircraft, which has been grounded in Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since mid-June, will need to be disassembled since it cannot be repaired locally, senior government officials informed CNN-News18. They further said the British Navy will deploy a bigger aircraft to carry away the dismantled aircraft. The UK will also pay all outstanding dues to India, such as parking and hangar charges.
The plane had a hydraulic snag that subsequently undermined its starting system, sources confirmed. Although the precise components to be dismantled were not detailed, a rectification team from the UK is said to be on its way to undertake the process.
The jet has been waiting for repair after it was forced to make an emergency landing in Kerala on the evening of June 14 due to a technical problem. Last week, ANI had quoted an official saying, “UK F-35B aircraft is waiting for repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing a technical snag. The UK has accepted an invitation to relocate the aircraft to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility at the airport.”
The official continued, “The plane will be relocated to the hangar as soon as UK engineering staff arrive with specialized equipment, thus ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft.”
At the same time, the British High Commission said ground crews were collaborating with Indian authorities to maintain safety procedures as they prepared for the jet’s required repairs and inspections. They also thanked India for assistance after the emergency landing.
Early on, the jet had been unable to fly back to the UK warship HMS Prince of Wales because of unfavorable weather. In precaution, the jet took a detour to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where it safely landed. While grounded, however, the aircraft encountered additional technical issues that made its return imminent. Aboard HMS Prince of Wales, engineers assessed the situation and decided that support from a UK-based engineering team was called for.
