Here’s Why British Fighter Jet’s Sudden Landed in Trivandrum

British Fighter Jet: A UK Navy F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport around 9:30 PM on Saturday after running low on fuel. Media sources reported that the pilot issued a low-fuel alert mid-flight and immediately requested permission to land. “The pilot requested landing clearance after reporting low fuel. Authorities handled the situation promptly and professionally,” a source confirmed.

The aircraft belongs to the British Carrier Strike Group and operates from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. As of now, the jet remains stationed at the airport, awaiting further clearance.

Officials clarified that the UK fighter jet can only be refueled once India’s Central government grants approval, following standard protocol for foreign military aircraft in Indian airspace. Earlier this year, former U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed adding India to the exclusive list of nations authorized to buy F-35 jets, underscoring the aircraft’s strategic significance.

Standard diversion by F-35:
Officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed they were fully notified about the incident and had provided all required support, characterizing the emergency landing of the F-35 fighter plane as a standard diversion. “This is a typical instance of an F-35 diverting. For the sake of flying safety, the IAF facilitated the aircraft and was fully aware of it. “The IAF is coordinating with all pertinent agencies and providing all assistance,” the IAF stated in a statement.

Also Read: British F-35 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing at Kerala Airport

What are F-35 jets?
One of the most sophisticated and adaptable fighter jets in the world is the F-35 Lightning II, which Lockheed Martin created for the US and its allies.

According to Lockheed Martin, the F-35 fighter jet program is expected to cost more than $1.7 trillion in total, including research, manufacturing, and maintenance.

Price of the Fighter Jet:
Each F-35 fighter jet doesn’t just fly, it burns a hole in the budget! The standard F-35A comes with a jaw-dropping price tag of $80 million, while the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B skyrockets to $115 million. The carrier-optimized F-35C isn’t far behind at $110 million. But the expenses don’t stop there; just keeping one in the air costs around $36,000 per hour. That’s right, every hour in the sky racks up a bill big enough to buy a luxury car.