A British F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter has remained grounded at a civilian airport in southern India for over two weeks, prompting questions in Parliament about the security of the UK’s most advanced combat aircraft.
The fifth-generation jet was forced to divert from HMS Prince of Wales and land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on 14 June, during a flight mission as part of Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s flagship 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment.
The aircraft, central to Britain’s carrier strike capability, was moved to a secure hangar following its unscheduled landing, where it remains under round-the-clock guard by RAF personnel.
Parliamentary Questions Raised
The matter was brought to the floor of the House of Commons on 30 June by Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, who pressed the Government on its plans to recover the jet and protect sensitive onboard technologies.
“What steps are the Government taking to recover the plane, how much longer will that take, and how will the Government ensure the security of protected technologies on the jet while it is in the hangar and out of view?” he asked.
In response, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard reassured MPs that the aircraft remains under close UK control, thanking Indian authorities for their cooperation.
“We continue to work with our Indian friends who provided first-class support when the F-35B was unable to return to the Prince of Wales,” said Pollard. “The security of the jet is in good hands because Royal Air Force crew are with it at all times.”
Technical Issue Still Unresolved
While the Ministry of Defence has not publicly confirmed the cause of the incident, it is understood that a technical issue prevented the aircraft from safely recovering to the carrier. Indian civil aviation and air force officials swiftly granted emergency clearance, allowing the pilot to land the aircraft safely.
Since then, engineers and logistics teams have been deployed to the site to determine options for recovering the aircraft. No timeline has yet been given for its return to operational service.
The situation has attracted scrutiny, particularly due to the location of the jet, parked at a civilian airport in a non-NATO partner country. While no sensitive systems are believed to have been compromised, experts and MPs alike have raised concerns over potential technology security risks and the operational resilience of the UK’s carrier strike capability.
Strategic Impact on Operation Highmast
The F-35B was part of the air wing assigned to HMS Prince of Wales, which is currently leading the UK’s largest Indo-Pacific deployment to date. The carrier departed Singapore earlier this week to continue the eight-month Operation Highmast mission, leaving the F-35 temporarily detached from the strike group.
The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed whether the jet will be able to rejoin the carrier en route or if alternative recovery plans are being considered.
For now, the aircraft remains under British military control, its stealth silhouette tucked away behind hangar doors in Kerala, awaiting a resolution to a sensitive logistical and strategic dilemma.
