UK team arrives in Kerala to repair F-35 aircraft, moves jet to hangar to assess the damage

Thiruvananthapuram: A team of experts from the United Kingdom reached Thiruvananthapuram via a special aircraft on Sunday to repair the UK F-35B aircraft that was stranded at the city airport since June 14.

According to sources, a team of 14 experts came by a British Royal Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft. The team will be examining the F-35B fighter and take a decision on whether the aircraft could be repaired here itself or needs to be airlifted after dismantling. The aircraft was shifted to the hangar.

A British High Commission spokesperson said in a statement that the UK engineering team would assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft.

The UK engineering team is carrying specialist equipment necessary for movement and repair.

The fighter that operated from HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier of the UK Royal Navy was unable to return to the carrier due to adverse weather conditions. Hence it was diverted to the Thiruvananthapuram airport and made an emergency landing.

The aircraft subsequently developed some technical glitch and remained grounded here.

The delay in repairing the F-35B fighter, which is considered as the most lethal and survivable fighter aircraft in the world, was widely trolled.

The Kerala Tourism even made a promotional campaign out of it stating that Kerala is such an amazing place and hence the fighter was not leaving the state.