Stranded British Fighter Jet To Be Moved To Thiruvananthapuram Airport’s Restore Facility | India Information
Practically two weeks after it made an emergency touchdown at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the UK F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet will probably be moved to the Upkeep Restore and Overhaul facility on the airport because it awaits repairs, the British Excessive Fee acknowledged on Friday.
“A UK F-35B plane is awaiting repairs on the Thiruvananthapuram Worldwide Airport after growing an engineering problem. The UK has accepted a suggestion to maneuver the plane to the Upkeep Restore and Overhaul facility on the airport. The plane will probably be moved to the hangar as soon as UK engineering groups arrive with specialist gear, thereby making certain there may be minimal disruption to scheduled upkeep of different plane,” mentioned a British Excessive Fee spokesperson.
“The plane will return to lively service as soon as repairs and security checks have been accomplished. Floor groups proceed to work intently with Indian authorities to make sure security and safety precautions are noticed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram Worldwide Airport for his or her continued help,” he added.
The stealth fighter jet made an emergency touchdown at Thiruvananthapuram Worldwide Airport on June 14 and is awaiting a staff of engineers from Lockheed Martin, the jet’s American producer, to resolve a persisting technical snag.
The superior fifth-generation fighter, a part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Provider Strike Group, at present deployed within the Indo-Pacific, was returning to its base after finishing joint maritime workout routines with the Indian Navy when it made an emergency touchdown in Thiruvananthapuram.
It was granted emergency clearance to land on the airport after it reported critically low gas ranges.
Authorities – together with the Indian Air Drive, Airport Authority of India, and different involved companies – initially anticipated the plane to take off shortly after refuelling. Nevertheless, a technical malfunction was quickly detected, delaying its departure.
A Royal Navy helicopter later airlifted a staff of British engineers and a alternative pilot to the positioning. Regardless of a number of makes an attempt over the subsequent few days, the plane remained unresponsive to take-off instructions.
At the moment parked at Bay 4 of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport beneath tight safety, the jet has drawn consideration as a consequence of its extended keep and publicity to persistent monsoon rains, elevating considerations about potential weather-related issues.
The F-35B is famend for its brief take-off and vertical touchdown (STOVL) capabilities, permitting it to function from plane carriers and brief runways. Regardless of its cutting-edge design, the continued problem has left British officers perplexed.
With all native efforts exhausted, the duty now falls on Lockheed Martin’s technical staff, who’re anticipated to reach quickly.
