The British Navy’s F-35 fighter jet has been parked at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for 20 days due to a technical fault. The unusual situation has sparked conversations not just in the British Parliament but also in Kerala, where Kerala Tourism and the state-run dairy cooperative ‘Milma’ have used the grounded fighter jet in their advertising campaigns.
Both Kerala Tourism and Milma shared promotional posters on social media featuring the parked F-35, turning the jet’s prolonged stay into a viral marketing opportunity. This has brought considerable embarrassment to Lockheed Martin, the American manufacturer of the F-35B, which is touted by the US as the world’s most expensive and advanced fighter jet.
Kerala Tourism’s poster shows the fighter jet parked at the airport with the tagline: “Kerala is such a beautiful place, I don’t want to leave,” suggesting that even a combat aircraft is reluctant to depart the state’s natural beauty. The ad awards the F-35 a playful five-star rating. Milma’s advertisement features a British pilot sipping one of its milk products while seated in front of the stranded aircraft. Meanwhile, several private businesses in Kerala have also jumped in, using the parked jet in their promotional material.
In the latest development, a team of experts is set to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow to repair the jet. A 40-member group of British and American technicians, including engineers from Lockheed Martin, will land with specialized equipment.
The team will travel aboard a British Army C-17 Globemaster aircraft. If the issue cannot be resolved by moving the jet to a hangar, the alternative plan is to dismantle the aircraft, removing both wings, and transport it back via military cargo plane. It is expected that the F-35 will be taken back by July 15.
However, the arrival of the team is subject to clearances from India’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs. Since the aircraft is parked in Bay No. 4 under CISF protection, entry to the area also requires special permission from the Indian Air Force. Two officers from the British Royal Air Force arrived in Thiruvananthapuram recently to inspect the jet, and along with five others, are currently supervising it. The equipment needed to tow the aircraft to a hangar will also be flown in from the UK.
The F-35 had taken off from the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was conducting military exercises in the Arabian Sea. It made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on the night of June 14 due to a fuel shortage.
Amid mounting political concern, British Defence Minister Luke Pollard addressed the issue in Parliament. Responding to Conservative MP Ben Obeys, who raised questions about the security of such a sophisticated aircraft in a non-NATO country, Pollard reassured lawmakers that the fighter jet is safe.
He noted that the Indian military extended exceptional support during the landing, and that the F-35 remains under tight security, with Royal Air Force crew members always present on site.
