F-35B in Kerala: UK fighter jet stuck in India for five weeks leaves for Australia

The F-35B landed in Kerala on 14 June after running into bad weather, then it reported a technical snag.

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The F-35B is now airborne and on its way to Darwin in Australia, an airport spokesman told the BBC.

The jet first landed on 14 June at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean. It then developed a technical snag.

Its prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could remain stranded in a foreign country for so long.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the British High Commission confirmed the aircraft's departure. "A UK engineering team, deployed since 6 July completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service."