After 37 Days, British Warplane Finally Departs Indian Soil

Image Source: Times of India

After an unexpected onemonth halt in Kerala, the British Royal Navy's F35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet has finally taken off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and resumed its journey to Darwin in Australia.

Major Events:

The jet had an emergency landing on June 14 because of hydraulic failure and poor weather as it was returning to HMS Prince of Wales.
Shipboard engineers' initial repair efforts were unsuccessful, following which the UK dispatched a 14member specialist team equipped with the latest equipment.
The plane was kept in the Air India hangar for more than five weeks and was subjected to stringent safety inspections and maintenance.
On July 22, the plane was cleared to fly and took off at 10:15 am local time.

Technical Snag & Repairs

Hydraulic failure affected brakes, control surfaces, and landing gear.
Maintenance was carried out by UKbased manufacturing experts and maintenance engineers.
The auxiliary power unit was also brought back online in the process.
Footnotes: Diplomatic & Financial
Complete logistic support was provided by Indian officials, such as emergency landing clearance and hangar facilities.
The British government appreciated India for its cooperation and security assistance.
Adani Airport Holdings Limited, the operator of the airport, is levying approximately Rs 5 lakh in hangar and parking fees.
Bird Group of Delhi will pay the dues on behalf of Britain.

Cultural Moment:

The extended length of the jet's stay prompted memes and social media frenzy, with Kerala Tourism famously terming it "the place you'll never want to leave.".

Sources: Independent, India Today, Times of India, The Hindu, MSN, Indian Express, Associated Press.