UK's F35-B at Thiruvananthapuram Airport moved to MRO facility

New Delhi: The fifth generation F35-B fighter that has been stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport after diverting from a British aircraft carrier due to a snag, has now been moved to a repair facility. A British high commission spokesperson said the UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport.

"The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to the scheduled maintenance of other aircraft," the spokesperson said.

The advanced jet had to divert to the Indian airport after developing a serious in-flight emergency. While the nature of the technical fault has not been disclosed, it appears to be of a complex nature given that the jet has been stranded for nearly two weeks.


"The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed," the spokesperson said.