Thiruvananthapuram, India – July 3, 2025 – A British Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, is likely to be partially dismantled and transported back to the United Kingdom aboard a military cargo plane, according to sources.
Multiple attempts to repair the advanced fifth-generation stealth jet on-site have reportedly failed, with persistent engineering issues preventing it from becoming airworthy. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that efforts to restore the aircraft’s flight readiness have so far proven unsuccessful.
Adding to the delays is the absence of an engineering team from the United Kingdom. While a team of thirty engineers was expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram for the repairs, they have not yet entered the country, sources stated.
The F-35’s emergency landing last month drew significant attention. Its prolonged grounding at the Indian airport has raised questions regarding the swift resolution of such technical issues and international coordination. The decision to dismantle and transport the aircraft suggests the complexity and severity of the engineering defects it has sustained.
