UK Fighter Jet "Vacation" in India Ends: F-35B Finally Takes Off

Mon Oct 20 2025 06:41:06 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

After five weeks of being grounded in Kerala, the meme-famous British F-35B fighter jet has left for Australia following repairs.

The British F-35B, which endured a five-week stay at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in India after developing a technical issue, has finally departed for Darwin, Australia. Its prolonged presence sparked curiosity and humor, making it a viral sensation.

A state-of-the-art British fighter jet, the F-35B, has at last departed from India after being stranded for over five weeks due to a technical malfunction. The jet, which became a popular subject for online memes and jokes, left Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala earlier today, bound for Darwin, Australia.

The aircraft had originally landed on 14 June after encountering poor weather during a mission in the Indian Ocean, and subsequently faced issues that prevented its return. Its extended stay on Indian soil raised eyebrows, eliciting questions about the technical challenges faced by such a modern aircraft in a foreign country.

The British High Commission confirmed the F-35B's departure in a statement on Tuesday, indicating that a UK engineering team had been sent to assess and repair the aircraft since 6 July. "The repairs and safety checks have been successfully completed, allowing the jet to resume active service," the commission stated.

The F-35B belongs to HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, which has been conducting joint exercises off the Australian coast. While the exact reasons for the flight to Darwin have not been disclosed, it is speculated that it relates to the carrier’s operations in the area.

In the days leading up to its departure, engineers from the carrier had traveled to inspect the stranded jet, which had initially raised concerns about possible disassembly for air transport if repairs weren’t successful. Beyond its technical challenges, the situation also became a comedic focal point in India, with locals creating memes depicting the jet as a reluctant tourist enjoying Kerala's monsoon and natural beauty.

Traveling at a cost of approximately $110 million, the F-35B caught the attention of social media users, some of whom humorously suggested it should earn Indian citizenship after such a long stay. Kerala's Tourism Department even joined in the jest, sharing a playful post that depicted the jet amid palm trees with cheeky captions, alluding to the state's reputation as "God's Own Country."

As the F-35B took flight, social media users bid farewell, humorously reflecting that the jet had been on an extended holiday and parting with phrases of "adios" as it left the scenic landscapes of India.