The F-35B, which was part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was engaged in operations about 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast when it was forced to divert to Thiruvananthapuram due to bad weather and low fuel. The Indian Air Force facilitated the emergency landing and provided immediate logistical support.However, during pre-departure checks ahead of the jet’s planned return to its carrier, a hydraulic failure was detected, this malfunction is considered serious as it could compromise the jet’s ability to take off and land safely.A small Royal Navy team, including three technicians, attempted to address the issue but could not complete the repairs due to the complexity of the fault.The fighter jet has been parked at Bay 4 of the airport and remains under the security of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Initially, the Royal Navy had declined an offer from Air India to move the jet into a hangar despite the ongoing monsoon rains in Kerala, but later agreed to the relocation.
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