British F-35B lighter leaves India

The British Royal Navy's F-35B fighter jet, which had been stranded in Kerala for over a month after making an emergency landing, flew out of the Thiruvananthapuram airport Tuesday morning. 

The stealth jet had been grounded in Kerala due to a hydraulic fault that took an expert team from the UK to repair.

The fighter received a green signal on Monday, allowing it to return to the skies after five weeks. Visuals this morning showed the aircraft taking off from the Thiruvananthapuram airport.

“A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 6, completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service,” said a British High Commission spokesperson, expressing gratitude to Indian authorities and airport teams.

The fifth-generation stealth fighter is part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which has been operating in the Indo-Pacific and recently finished joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy.

The jet was flying from the UK to Australia on June 14 when it developed a snag and was forced to take a detour to Kerala. 
Facing low fuel levels and adverse weather, the pilot had opted for an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Indian Air Force came to the rescue of the troubled jet; they facilitated its landing in Thiruvananthapuram and provided logistical support.