After being stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram airport for over a month, the British Navy’s F-35B fighter jet has departed the nation. The fighter jet’s repairs were finished after it was grounded at the Thiruvananthapuram airport because of technical issues. After completing a test flight yesterday and verifying its operational competence, the aircraft then took off for the UK. From Thiruvananthapuram, it will travel directly to Australia. It will thereafter travel to the UK from there.

On Tuesday, the aircraft took off at approximately 10.45 a.m. According to airport officials, the aircraft was en route to Australia’s Darwin Airport. From here, Captain Mark piloted the aircraft. At approximately 9.30 am, Captain Mark received approval from the air traffic control tower to take off and depart the airport.

The skipper expressed gratitude to skipper Mark for hosting Britain’s proud F-35B and for giving his guests all the amenities they needed. Before boarding the aircraft in the morning, he also gave a salute to the crew of Bird, a firm that had carried the aircraft to the hangar for maintenance. “India has provided excellent service and hospitality,” the skipper remarked.

The plane tried to land aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Anchorage around 9.30 p.m. on June 14 during a military drill in the Arabian Sea, but it was unsuccessful because of poor weather. After that, the plane was rerouted to Thiruvananthapuram. When the aircraft was ready to take off, the pilot filled it with 4000 kg of fuel and discovered that the auxiliary power unit and hydraulic system were not working properly. Experts then came from the ship in a helicopter, but they couldn’t resolve the issue.

It was taken to the hangar unit at Chakka for maintenance because the problem could not be resolved. After that, the aircraft was removed, and the engine’s functionality was examined. Then, on Tuesday, it left. The next day, an Airbus Atlas aircraft would transfer the equipment that was brought in to remedy the aircraft’s malfunction.