The Royal Navy's F-35B stealth fighter jet, which had made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport last month, took off on Tuesday morning after repair work that continued for more than a month.
The high-tech, worth more than $110 million, aircraft had to land on June 14 when a technical glitch occurred while it was taking off for a routine sortie.
A low fuel level and adverse weather conditions led to the unplanned landing, which took place safely in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF offered refueling and logistical support immediately after the incident.
The jet was ever since kept on the ground at the airport, where it was undergoing tests and repairs orchestrated by British authorities. On July 6, 21 technical professionals arrived from the United Kingdom to repair the aircraft. The plane, which is part of the Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group based on the HMS Prince of Wales, was later transferred to a local maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility.
After repair work was successfully undertaken, the jet was moved out of the hangar and relocated to the parking bay of the airport. It was refueled in readiness to depart. An airport authority authenticated to Hindustan Times, "The repaired fighter jet has been taken out of the hangar and is now set in the parking bay of the airport. It was refueled. The jet will take off from the airport on Tuesday."
The F-35B took off on July 22, over five weeks since the emergency landing. The professional repair crew is to return to the UK aboard a special plane on July 22 or 23.
British authorities previously commended Indian authorities for their support in the repair and restoration exercise. On June 25, the UK recognized continued repair work and commended the assistance from Indian counterparts. Two days thereafter, on June 27, it was confirmed that the jet would be moved to a local MRO site for the necessary work.
The smooth departure of the F-35B is the end of a scarce international military aviation event managed with effective coordination among Indian and British authorities.
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