An F-35B fighter jet — one of the most advanced and expensive jets in the world — belonging to the UK Navy has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for nearly a week. The jet was on its way back from an Indo-Pacific operation when it suffered a technical issue and failed to land on its carrier ship. It was then forced to an emergency landing at the Trivandrum airport.
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F-35B In Kerala: What’s Going On?
The Royal Navy F-35B Lightning is a fifth-generation, US-made, multirole stealth fighter equipped with advanced sensors and low-observable technology. It is specifically the marine version of the aircraft. The jet took off from the UK carrier HMS Prince of Wales and stopped at Thiruvananthapuram for refuelling.
According to reports, a mechanical snag was discovered after landing, preventing its return flight. The pilot and crew remained in the city under heavy security as technicians continued to work on the issue. The most recent reports however, claim the pilot to have returned. These haven’t however, been confirmed.
A lot of buzz have surrounded the plane ever since it touched down in Kerala. Here are some of the trending claims and buzz about the Royal Navy’s F-35…
Rumors About ‘Stealth Codes’ Being Cracked
Some Indian media reports said that India had somehow “cracked” the jet’s stealth codes. These are most likely baseless. The Indian Air Force (IAF) did acknowledge the diversion and recovery assistance in a social media post but didn’t make any claims about detecting or decoding any secret technology.
The Funny OLX Listing
Someone put a UK F-35B fighter jet up for sale on OLX🤣
— Rakesh_sundarRay (@RSundarRay) June 20, 2025
kaise kaise log rehte hai yahan.. pic.twitter.com/w64OFp23na
Social media had a good laugh when someone created a fake OLX listing to “sell” the grounded jet. The post humorously described the jet as “driven by a lady doctor,” boasting new tires and a new battery. A fact-check revealed that the ad was fabricated in some image editing software, and was never really posted on OLX.
Modi-Starmer Interaction Fuels More Buzz
An animated conversation between Indian PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer at a recent G7 summit also went viral. Some social media users speculated — sarcastically — that they must have been discussing the stranded jet.
What’s Next?
For now, repair work is ongoing at the airport. The jet will leave once it’s deemed safe to fly and granted permission by Indian authorities. Until then, the Royal Navy will continue to coordinate with Indian officials to ensure a smooth departure for the F-35B.
