A British F-35B fighter jet that was stranded at an Indian airport for more than a month has finally departed after sparking memes on social media.
According to Euro News, the UK fighter jet took off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the southern state of Kerala on Tuesday, July 22, after getting repairs.
The F-35, which is considered one of the most advanced stealth fighter jets in the world, was grounded at the airport in Kerala after technical problems with its hydraulics and auxiliary power unit (APU).
A spokesperson for the UK High Commission stated, “A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on 14 June, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since 6 July, completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.”
“The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process,” the spokesperson added.
The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier was on a routine mission in the Arabian Sea when bad weather conditions forced it to land safely in India instead of returning to HMS Prince of Wales.
However, as per reports, after getting required repairs, the jet will now fly to an aircraft carrier in Darwin, Australia.
