Thiruvananthapuram: A Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35 Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport late on Saturday evening after running short of fuel. Such an incident is considered rate.
Military aircraft of friendly foreign nations do make stopovers for logistics purposes, but that happens after due notice. The arrival of the RAF jet was unexpected, ABP Live News has reported.
The aircraft landed safely around 9.30 pm on Saturday after being granted permission, it has been revealed. The pilot requested clearance to land after facing critical fuel shortage.
“Airport officials swiftly responded to the distress call, guiding the aircraft to safety without incident. The advanced stealth fighter is currently stationed at the airport bay, awaiting official clearance from the central government to proceed with refueling operations. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been informed,” an official said.
The F-35B Lightning II is a cutting-edge, fifth-generation combat jet renowned for its stealth design, short take-off, and vertical landing capabilities. Designed for versatility, the F-35B can seamlessly switch between multiple combat roles, including precision ground strikes, electronic warfare, surveillance, and air-to-air combat.
According to sources, this particular F-35B is based out of RAF Marham in Norfolk. The emergency landing in India followed an earlier incident back in the UK. On Thursday, the same model aircraft was forced to declare an emergency during a routine flight near its home base due to what the RAF described as a “minor technical issue.” The jet landed safely without further complications.
“The RAF can confirm an F-35 Lightning experienced a minor technical issue during a routine flight last night,” an RAF spokesperson stated on Friday.
