SOURCE: AFI
A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, valued at over $100 million, has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, for nearly 10 days due to a hydraulic system failure. The advanced stealth aircraft, which made an emergency landing on June 14, 2025, after encountering low fuel and adverse weather conditions, is now facing parking fees as airport authorities prepare to calculate charges based on the jet’s specifications. This unprecedented situation has drawn significant attention, with the aircraft parked at Bay 4 under tight security provided by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The F-35B, part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific region when it was forced to divert to Thiruvananthapuram, a pre-designated emergency recovery airfield. Initial attempts by Royal Navy technicians to repair the hydraulic issue, critical for the jet’s Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capabilities, have been unsuccessful. A team of engineers from the UK and the US is expected to arrive soon to address the issue, but if repairs fail, the jet may need to be airlifted back to the UK using an RAF C-17 Globemaster III.
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, operated by Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited (ATIAL), typically levies parking fees based on an aircraft’s Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW). According to available data, parking fees for a small jet like a Learjet 60 (MTOW approximately 10.7 MT) are around INR 5,000 per day, while a larger aircraft like a Gulfstream G650 (MTOW approximately 45.2 MT) can incur charges up to INR 50,000 per day. The F-35B Lightning II has an MTOW of approximately 27,300 kg (27.3 MT), rounded to 27 MT for calculation purposes.
To estimate the parking fees for the F-35B, we can interpolate between the known rates for the Learjet 60 and Gulfstream G650 based on their MTOWs:
- Learjet 60: MTOW 10.7 MT, parking fee INR 5,000 per day.
- Gulfstream G650: MTOW 45.2 MT, parking fee INR 50,000 per day.
- F-35B: MTOW 27 MT.
Using linear interpolation:
- The difference in MTOW between the Gulfstream G650 and Learjet 60 is 45.2 MT – 10.7 MT = 34.5 MT.
- The difference in parking fees is INR 50,000 – INR 5,000 = INR 45,000.
- The fee increase per MT is INR 45,000 ÷ 34.5 MT ? INR 1,304.35 per MT.
- The F-35B’s MTOW of 27 MT is 27 MT – 10.7 MT = 16.3 MT above the Learjet 60.
- Additional fee for the F-35B: 16.3 MT × INR 1,304.35 ? INR 21,260.91.
- Total estimated daily parking fee: INR 5,000 + INR 21,260.91 ? INR 26,261 per day.
Thus, the estimated parking fee for the F-35B is approximately INR 26,261 per day.
For 12 days of parking (extending beyond the reported 10 days as of June 26, 2025), the total fee would be:
INR 26,261 × 12 = INR 315,132.
The F-35B’s prolonged stay at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is highly unusual, as it marks the first time this advanced fighter jet has been stranded abroad. The aircraft, parked in Bay 4, typically reserved for VIP aircraft, does not currently disrupt airport operations due to low flight traffic. However, the Royal Navy declined an offer from Air India to move the jet to a hangar, likely due to concerns over protecting its sensitive stealth technology and advanced avionics.
Airport authorities have not yet finalized the exact fee structure, as the standard pricing for civilian aircraft may not fully apply to a military jet like the F-35B. Sources suggest that the Union government may cover the costs, given the aircraft’s defense significance and the strong India-UK defense cooperation demonstrated during this incident. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has provided extensive support, including refueling, accommodation, and Western-style meals for the British crew.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.