SOURCE: AFI
A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, on June 14, 2025, remains grounded due to a critical hydraulic system failure. Initially diverted from the UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales due to low fuel amid adverse weather conditions, the $120 million stealth fighter jet has faced ongoing technical challenges, thwarting efforts by Royal Navy technicians to restore it to operational status.
Defence officials, as reported by Mathrubhumi, have indicated that the hydraulic issue is a major fault requiring specialized expertise and equipment unavailable locally. As a result, the UK is now contemplating airlifting the jet back to a repair facility in the United Kingdom using a Royal Air Force (RAF) C-17 Globemaster III, highlighting the complexities of maintaining advanced fifth-generation aircraft and the strength of India-UK defense cooperation.
The F-35B, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, was conducting routine operations outside India’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) as part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group (CSG25), which had recently completed a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Indian Navy on June 9-10, 2025. On the night of June 14, at approximately 9:30 PM IST, the pilot, identified as Captain Mike, issued a distress signal citing critically low fuel levels, exacerbated by rough sea conditions and monsoon weather that prevented a safe return to the carrier, stationed 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast. The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) swiftly coordinated with Thiruvananthapuram’s air traffic control, a pre-designated emergency recovery airfield, to facilitate a safe landing.
The IAF provided immediate logistical support, including refueling arrangements, accommodation, and Western-style meals for the British crew, who were unfamiliar with local cuisine. The aircraft was parked at Bay 4 of the airport’s General Aviation terminal under tight security by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), with local ground-handling agencies like Air India SATS assisting. Initially, the plan was to refuel and return the jet to HMS Prince of Wales, but a subsequent inspection revealed a hydraulic failure, grounding the aircraft.
The hydraulic system of the F-35B, critical for its STOVL capabilities, including the lift fan and control surfaces, is a sophisticated and sensitive component. The fault, identified during pre-departure checks, proved too complex for the initial Royal Navy maintenance team, which included three technicians and a replacement pilot airlifted by an AW101 Merlin helicopter from HMS Prince of Wales on June 15. Despite their efforts, the team could not resolve the issue, with monsoon conditions—Thiruvananthapuram was under an orange alert for heavy rain and winds—further complicating repairs. Six technicians returned to the carrier on June 17, leaving three personnel, including the original pilot, to oversee ongoing efforts.
With local repairs proving unfeasible, UK defence officials are now considering airlifting the F-35B back to a specialized repair facility in the UK, likely using an RAF C-17 Globemaster III, as reported by Republic World and ANI. The C-17, capable of carrying up to 77.5 tons, is well-suited to transport the 14.5-ton F-35B, though the process requires meticulous planning to ensure safe loading and transit of the $120 million asset. A larger RAF maintenance team is expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram to assess whether on-site repairs remain viable or to prepare the jet for airlift, a complex operation given the aircraft’s sensitive stealth features and damaged hydraulic system.
The RAF operates 22 C-17s, with eight based at RAF Brize Norton, making it a feasible option for such a recovery mission. This approach mirrors past incidents, such as the 2021 recovery of a crashed UK F-35B from the Mediterranean, where specialized equipment was used to retrieve sensitive wreckage. The decision to airlift, if finalized, underscores the technical and diplomatic challenges of handling advanced military assets abroad, particularly in a non-NATO country like India.
The F-35B’s grounding raises questions about the platform’s maintenance challenges, a recurring issue noted by Defense News in 2023, with the U.S. Air Force halving its F-35 orders due to high upkeep costs. For India, which was offered F-35s by former U.S. President Donald Trump in early 2025, the incident may influence its evaluation of the platform against alternatives like the Rafale-M, recently launched for the Indian Navy. The IAF’s interest in additional C-17s, as reported by idrw.org, could also gain traction if the RAF’s airlift operation proves successful, leveraging India’s own 11 C-17s for similar contingencies.
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