UK team arrives in Kerala to assess and repair grounded British fighter jet F-35

After it made the emergency landing, the fighter jet, which is considered to be among the most advanced in the world, was given security cover by CISF commandos.

A UK High Commission spokesperson said the engineering team – that was flown in on a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft around noon — has been deployed to assess and repair the fighter aircraft.

“The UK has accepted the offer of a space in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and are in discussions to finalise arrangements with relevant authorities. The UK engineers are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process,” said the spokesperson. “The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams.”

The British fighter jet being moved to a designated facility at the airport in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. (PTI)

Earlier, the High Commission had said that the aircraft would return to active service once repairs and safety checks were completed.

At the same time, sources said they will not be sharing details on the timelines or details of repair and maintenance matters or on private discussions with the Government of India.

An official source at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport said, “We have been offering full support on the ground. Our CISF team is providing special security for the aircraft, utilising a Quick Reaction Team vehicle to ensure maximum protection. Additionally, we have arranged airport entry permits, accommodation, and meals for the UK crew on the airside to facilitate their monitoring of the aircraft.’’

Regarding the fee to be levied on the Royal Air Force for parking of the fighter jet, the airport said such things will be decided only at the time of departure of the stranded aircraft.

The fighter jet from the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales made the landing in Thiruvananthapuram while undertaking a routine flight outside the Indian air defence identification zone, which is a designated area of airspace extending beyond a country’s sovereign territory, with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield. The integrated air command and control system had detected the jet and authorised it to land after being diverted due to emergency.