A British F-35B fighter jet has remained grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in southern India for nearly three weeks after a technical fault prevented it from returning to its carrier, HMS Prince of Wales.

The jet, which landed safely on 14 June after encountering bad weather over the Indian Ocean, has since developed a technical snag. Engineering teams aboard the British carrier have so far failed to fix the issue. The UK has now accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the airport’s maintenance facility while waiting for specialised equipment and personnel from Britain.

“The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks are completed,” the British High Commission said, confirming close cooperation with Indian authorities.

Political Scrutiny and Public Attention

The incident has drawn attention in both countries. In the UK, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty raised concerns in Parliament about the aircraft’s security and recovery timeline. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard assured that the jet remains under UK control and praised Indian support.

Meanwhile, the situation has become a viral topic online. Kerala Tourism joked the jet, like many visitors, is “finding it hard to leave.” Social media users posted memes suggesting the aircraft had overstayed its welcome and deserved Indian citizenship.

Experts warn the episode is a public relations setback for the Royal Navy, with security analyst Sameer Patil noting the delay could damage perceptions of military preparedness.