Thiruvananthapuram: How long before the Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft finally takes off from Thiruvananthapuram?
Nobody seems to have an answer to that.
It now seems that the aircraft suffered serious damages while landing. According to sources, not only the hydraulics, but even its engine suffered damage as the stealth fighter landed with a near empty fuel tank.
The pilot, named Captain Mike, took off from the Royal Navy carrier HMS Prince Of Wales on Saturday on a routine sortie. However, by the time he returned to the carrier, sailing in international waters off the Indian coast, the weather did not allow a landing.
The pilot circled the carrier and even dumped fuel, waiting for a window to get the fighter back on the flight deck of the carrier. This never came and Captain Mike declared an emergency that was picked up by the Indian Air Force (IAF), which granted permission for the aircraft to land at Thiruvananthapuram. It did so around 9.30 pm on Saturday.
The pilot did not let the aircraft out of his sight for even a moment till two personnel of the Royal Navy arrived around 11.15 pm.
The F-35 was refuelled the next day and even as it was readied for take-off, Captain Mike realised that there was a problem with the hydraulics. A team of technicians arrived by a Royal Navy helicopter to begin repairs on Monday. The helicopter also brought a replacement pilot.
The maintenance crew were unable to rectify the damage. While three technicians stayed back with replacement pilot Freddie, the helicopter left with Captain Mike and the others for the carrier. The fighter jet remains parked at Bay 4 of the airport, with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel standing guard.
“The aircraft is exposed to the elements. However, the pilot and technicians do not want it to be moved into a hangar. They have been put up at the emergency medical centre of the airport from where the aircraft is visible. They are taking turns to maintain watch over it throughout the day and night,” an official said.
It is now believed that specialised tools and spares will have to be airlifted from the US or UK to make the fifth-generation fighter airworthy. Till that happens, Freddie and his team will have to maintain vigil.
