An F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet belonging to the British Royal Navy, which has been stranded at the Thiruvanathapuram Internation Airport in Kerala for around 10 days due to technical issues, will finally be moved to Air India hangar, according to the British High Commission.Ā
A team of 40 British experts will reach Kerala to carry out the repairs, reported Manorama Online. To transport the F-35 to the hangar, specialist equipment will be brought to the airport. This is because of the possibility of further damage to the grounded aircraft.
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"We are trying to complete the repair work as soon as possible," said a spokesperson for the British High Commission. The technical issues were found in the hydraulic system of the aircraft during inspection. The transportation of the F-35 jet will be carried out only after the specialist equipment and experts arrive at the spot, according to the news outlet.
The UK authorities are required to pay rent for parking the $110 million worth F-35B, which is manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin. It is the only fifth-generation fighter jet that is capable of short take-off and vertical landing.
The F-35B can hover like a helicopter and fly like a jet thanks to its smart lift system
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The stealth fighter has been stranded on the airport tarmac for around two weeks and is being guarded by CISF personnel. It took off from the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier on June 14 during a joint exercise in the Indian Ocean.
However, it made an emergency landing at the Thiruvanthapuram airport and could not return to the aircraft carrier dur to bad weather. Though it landed safely, it developed technical issues.
