A British F-35 Lightning II diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on Saturday due to poor weather conditions while operating from HMS Prince of Wales during the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 25 deployment.
The aircraft landed safely and without incident.
According to local reports, airport authorities declared an emergency to facilitate a smooth and safe landing. “The pilot reported low fuel and asked for permission to land. Everything was handled quickly and professionally,” sources told the Times of India. The jet remains parked at the airport pending clearance to refuel.
It is understood the aircraft was unable to land on the carrier due to adverse weather and diverted in the interest of safety, as is standard operating procedure. Aircraft on such operations routinely carry sufficient fuel to enable safe diversion when necessary. Plans are underway for the aircraft to return to the carrier group.
The incident occurred during Operation Highmast, the UK’s eight-month Indo-Pacific mission involving collaboration with 13 nations. Led by HMS Prince of Wales, the Carrier Strike Group has transited the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and continues to conduct multinational training and engagement aimed at reinforcing the UK’s commitment to regional and global security.
Can Indian security be trusted? I’d say no.
Telling me, the pilot had better not leave it alone for a second, it will be towed off into a hanger! The Russian embassy will have people already there, trying to pay for access with oil and gas🤣🤣
That was always SOP: the pilot stays with the frame until security can be assured.
Usually in the form of the technicians sent out to fix the issue.
I agree the Russians will be trying to access it and everything in India is for sale…..everything…..
Can anyone be trusted? Only those with existing F35s will lack interest.
Will the Indian Government want to obviously delay the plane’s departure whilst it is inspected. Not sure that would be a sensible move.
Well if irans supposedly got 2 pilots and wreckage to study they’ll get the info anyway
Really!!!!!
Is that the reason why the Brits stayed on in India for 400 years and considered it, it’s ‘jewel in the crown’, I wonder?
No. Because India is in with Russia as it suits and will happily play one off against the other for Indias own ends.
And don’t operate stealth jets.
So I’m concerned.
To be fair, I wouldn’t blame you.
“Low Fuel Reserves”.
Oh aye !
Why? Better not have lost the CV or have miscalculated fuel for return journey. Reminds me of the time a Harrier landed on an unsuspecting civilian ship.
They’re playing it down, but it’s not exactly a great sign is it?
Probably a sensible technical diversion, I dare say they will say ‘fuel’ issue regardless of the technical problem.
It will either be easily fixed by team from PoW, or a C17 and technical team will be along on a 99 Sqn to pick her up for return to Marham.
Not a big problem in my view. Every air force is going to encounter issues like this from time to time especially if they have the capability to act on a global basis. Sh*t happens. It’s not like they had to land in hostile territory and hit the self distruct button.
It could well be a good sign that the kit we use is well enough regarded other air forces think they might learn something.
Under maritime law yhe harrier was there’s to keep. Funny story. They ended up selling it back to us!
If it turns out to have been a mechanical issue, such as a valve not working then ok, these things happen but if the pilot got lost or wasn’t paying attention to his fuel levels then he deserves the roasting that awaits.
It doesn’t work like that. Bingo fuel is calculated before the sortie. It could have been another technical issue with the jet, or it could have been a weather related diversion. These things happen.
I would suggest a red light regarding the lift fan etc, preventing a return to PoW.
Says it was fuel related.
CSG 25 has been conducting joint exercises with the Indian navy, so if an F35 gets short of fuel we are in a friendly environment. I’d imagine a Merlin with ground crew will go and get it refuelled and back home.
And for those concerned about divulging secrets to Russians, anyone attending an air show can get up close and photograph an F35, the real secret bits would require a strip down. It ain’t going to happen.
The other way of looking at this is it’s a massive public embarrassment for MOD/Treasury, we have £2.4+ billion worth of 5th Generation Fighters sat on a carrier, half way round the world with zero ability to be refuelled in the air. It could actually be a good thin* to happen as it could speed up Project Ark Royal and acquire some MQ25 drones.
ABCDave, I’m no mathematician but !
“Why do they call you Dave ?”
Shame external tanks weren’t developed to allow buddy-to-buddy refuelling for F35s.
Just bear in mind that bright idea killed off the USN S3 Vikings that had been re purposed for use as Tankers, the result was using F18s as buddy tankers as standard practice. So they just burn through the airframe hours twice as fast.
Now imagine how much it would cost to use an F35B ?
Imagine the cost of losing an F35B in the sea because it runs short of fuel and there’s no land within range to land?
Mr Spock, Umm derrr, are you are forgetting we have next generation”Tractor Beams” and “transporters” on our Carriers ?
“She canny take it captain”.
Priority 1. Get it the hell out of there. India has fuel and they are dodgy.
It was bad weather. Monsoon came early.