A state-of-the-art British F-35B fighter jet, which became a meme sensation after being stuck at an Indian airport for five weeks, has finally departed. The jet landed in Kerala on June 14th due to bad weather and developed a technical snag. A UK engineering team completed repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.
The F-35B was part of the HMS Prince of Wales fleet, which is currently conducting joint exercises off the coast of Australia. The plane’s departure marks the end of speculation surrounding its prolonged presence in India. The Royal Navy’s flagship carrier is likely why the jet flew to Darwin.
The jet’s prolonged stay sparked curiosity and raised questions about how a modern aircraft could remain stranded for so long. Engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales had visited the plane to fix it, but ultimately needed additional repairs at the airport. Initial reports suggested that if repairs failed, the jet might need to be partially dismantled and transported in a larger cargo plane.
F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets with unique capabilities, including short take-off and vertical landing. The case of the stranded $110m (£80m) jet was raised in the House of Commons. In India, the “lonely F-35B” became a subject of jokes and memes after being soaked by Kerala monsoon rains.
The Kerala government’s tourism department even joined in on the fun with a post on X that joked about the jet not wanting to leave its scenic surroundings. After departing, X users posted messages saying goodbye to the jet as it left “after enjoying more than one month of holidays at God’s Own Country”.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c994z8mgjmmo