Emergency Landing of UK F-35 Fighter Jet at Thiruvananthapuram Airport: What Happened?

UK F-35 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing

Thiruvananthapuram: A Royal Air Force F-35 jet from the UK was forced to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after it reportedly ran low on fuel during a routine operation over the Indian Ocean.

As per sources from the airport and defense sectors, the advanced stealth aircraft was conducting missions from a British aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean when it encountered challenges returning to the ship on Saturday night.

The pilot attempted multiple landings on the carrier, but adverse sea conditions and strong winds made it unsafe to land.

With fuel levels dwindling, the pilot reached out to Indian air traffic control to request emergency landing clearance at the nearest civilian airport.

Thiruvananthapuram airport, situated on Kerala's southern coast, was deemed the best option for landing.

Upon receiving the distress signal, airport officials promptly declared a full emergency and implemented all necessary protocols to facilitate a safe landing.

Fire and rescue teams, along with medical personnel, were placed on standby, and one runway was designated exclusively for the fighter jet's landing.

The F-35 successfully touched down at approximately 9:30 p.m., attracting attention from airport staff and security due to the unusual presence of a military aircraft at a civilian facility.

Authorities confirmed that the aircraft was unarmed and posed no security threat.

The Indian Air Force and civil aviation officials were quickly notified and coordinated ground operations, including refueling and security checks.

Reports indicate that a team of UK defense personnel aboard the aircraft carrier maintained constant communication with both Indian authorities and the pilot throughout the incident.

Following refueling, the aircraft is anticipated to return to its carrier once the sea conditions improve.

This incident represents a rare occurrence of a foreign military jet making an emergency landing on Indian territory during peacetime.

It also underscores the effective collaboration between Indian aviation authorities and foreign military forces operating in the region.