Updated: June 18, 2025
A Royal Navy F‑35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (Trivandrum) late on Saturday night and remains grounded pending technical assessments. This unscheduled diversion—the first of its kind for a foreign F‑35 in India—highlights both the aircraft’s advanced safety protocols and India–UK military cooperation.
What Happened
- Date & Time: June 15, 2025, around 9:30 PM IST
- Location: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), Kerala
- Aircraft: F‑35B Lightning II, part of HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group
- Reason: Low fuel and a suspected hydraulic system fault prompted the diversion ndtv.comeconomictimes.indiatimes.com
Image: An F‑35B preparing to land on HMS Prince of Wales. Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
Key Quote from the IAF
“A normal occurrence of diversion by an F‑35. The IAF was fully aware and facilitated the aircraft for flight‑safety reasons. All assistance is being provided, and we remain in coordination with all agencies,” stated Group Captain Anil Sharma, Indian Air Force spokesperson timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
5 Key Facts
- First Foreign F‑35 Diversion in India: This marks the inaugural unscheduled landing of an F‑35 outside a carrier in Indian territory.
- Joint Protocols: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and airport authorities declared an emergency, clearing Bay 4 for priority landing.
- Technical Snag: Initial reports suggest a hydraulic system anomaly aggravated by rough sea recovery conditions; technicians arrived via helicopter from the carrier for on‑site repairs timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- Security Measures: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has secured the jet under armed guard.
- Departure Plans: The F‑35 was refuelled on Sunday morning and will depart once UK and Indian technical teams sign off.
Expert Analysis
In an exclusive interview, Air Marshal (Retd.) Dr. R.K. Gupta, defence analyst and former IAF engineering head (LinkedIn profile), underscored the routine nature of such diversions:
“Carrier‑operated jets like the F‑35B regularly divert to land bases when sea‑state or technical warnings arise. The swift coordination between the IAF and Royal Navy underscores robust interoperability.”
Dr. Gupta’s 30 years in aerospace engineering lend weight to his assessment of F‑35 safety measures and India’s preparedness for advanced aircraft handling.
Timeline of Events
- June 14, 9:30 PM: Pilot reports low fuel; requests emergency landing.
- June 15, 12:00 AM: Jet touches down safely at TRV.
- June 15, 9:00 AM: UK technicians arrive; begin diagnostics.
- June 16–18: Ongoing repairs; jet under CISF guard.
- Next Steps: Flight‑clearance pending technical sign‑off and diplomatic permissions.
What Happens Next?
- Technical Clearance: UK and Indian engineers will certify hydraulic and fuel‑system integrity.
- Diplomatic Clearance: Formal approvals from both governments for refuelling and departure.
- Operational Lessons: IAF may review runway emergency‑landing protocols for carrier jets, enhancing future drill coordination.
Fact‑Check
| Claim | Source | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency landing due to low fuel | NDTV; India Today | Pilot reported critical fuel levels ndtv.comindiatoday.in |
| Suspected hydraulic failure | Economic Times | Initial diversion attributed to hydraulics economictimes.indiatimes.com |
| IAF fully aware and facilitated landing | Times of India | Official IAF statement confirmation timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
Daily Digest
- June 19: Update on jet departure ETA.
- June 20: Technical debrief from Royal Navy.
- June 22: IAF shares insights on handling stealth aircraft on land.
