A British F-35B fighter jet has been stranded in India for over 10 days due to a hydraulic system failure.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened:
* Emergency Landing: The F-35B, part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was conducting drills in the Arabian Sea when it encountered bad weather and was unable to return to its aircraft carrier. It initially sought permission to land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala due to low fuel.
* Technical Snag: After landing safely, the aircraft developed a hydraulic system issue, rendering it unable to take off again. Hydraulics are crucial for various flight control functions.
* Failed Repair Attempts: A British team of technicians from the Carrier Strike Group inspected the aircraft but were unable to fix the glitch.
* Specialist Team Dispatched: Due to the complexity of the issue, a larger team of specialist engineers from the UK, possibly including American technicians, is being dispatched with necessary equipment to carry out the repairs.
* Security Concerns: The jet, which is a highly classified piece of military technology, has been parked in the open at the civilian airport, raising concerns about its security and exposure to foreign eyes. The British authorities have reportedly declined an offer from Air India to move it into a hangar, citing these concerns. Indian authorities have tasked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) with guarding the jet round the clock.
* Possible Airlift: If repairs prove unsuccessful, airlifting the aircraft back to the UK is being considered as an option.
The incident highlights the complexities of maintaining advanced military aircraft and the logistical challenges that can arise when they encounter technical issues far from their home base.

An Air India passenger plane, Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, India, crashed on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Here’s what is known about the last minutes before the crash, based on available reports:
* Take-off: The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:38 PM local time (IST) from runway 23.
* Mayday Call: Shortly after departure, the pilots issued a “Mayday” distress call to Air Traffic Control (ATC), indicating a serious emergency on board.
* Loss of Signal: According to flight tracking websites like Flightradar24, the aircraft reached a maximum height of 625 feet (190m). The last signal from the aircraft was received “just seconds after take off.”
* No Further Response: After the Mayday call, there was no further response from the aircraft to calls made by ATC.
* Crash: The plane crashed within approximately five minutes of taking off, impacting a residential area called Meghani Nagar, outside the airport perimeter.
While the exact sequence of events during those few minutes leading to the crash is under investigation, the key points are the distress call and the rapid loss of contact and altitude shortly after takeoff.