A British F-35B fighter jet, grounded at an Indian airport for almost a month and the subject of social media memes and cartoons, is expected to be repaired and flown back to the UK as early as next week, according to Indian officials.
The state-of-the-art stealth fighter, costing approximately $115 million (£84.6 million), has been stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala due to a technical issue being addressed by British engineers, officials stated.
The jet encountered adverse weather conditions during a routine operation in the Arabian Sea last month and was unable to return to its base, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, officials explained.
Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave.
Thank you, The Fauxy.#F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism pic.twitter.com/3lei66a5T2
— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) July 2, 2025
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, where it made a safe landing on June 14.
Officials anticipate the repairs to be completed within the next few days, paving the way for the jet’s return to the UK next week.
The grounded Lockheed Martin-manufactured aircraft has inspired numerous AI-generated memes in India.
The Kerala tourism department joined in, posting an image on social media of the aircraft on the runway, surrounded by coconut trees, accompanied by a fictional five-star review.
“Kerala is such an amazing place, I don’t want to leave. Definitely recommend,” the post read.
K Biju, a senior official at the state’s tourism department, confirmed the lighthearted nature of the post.
“It was our way to appreciate and thank the Brits who are the biggest inbound visitors to Kerala for tourism,” Biju stated.
Another cartoon circulating on X depicted the plane enjoying snacks with locals against a picturesque backdrop.
The British High Commission has confirmed to The Associated Press that a UK engineering team has been dispatched to “assess and repair” the aircraft.
Speculation had arisen in India that the aircraft might need to be partially disassembled and transported by cargo plane if repairs proved unsuccessful.
However, the UK’s Ministry of Defence refuted this speculation in an emailed statement.
