Stranded F-35 fighter jet leaves India for Darwin to rejoin HMS Prince of Wales Strike Group

A UK Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that has created international interest after mechanical problems stranded it in India for more than a month has now flown to Darwin. Find out why.

A UK Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that created international attention after being stranded in India for more than a month with mechanical problems has now flown to Darwin.

A UK Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet that has created international interest after mechanical problems stranded it in India for more than a month has now flown to Darwin.

The F-35B had to undergo extensive repairs and safety checks, after it was forced to make an emergency landing when it got caught in adverse weather conditions. The jet had been on a regular sortie in the Arabian Sea.

The fighter was part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group on board HMS Prince of Wales which cruised into Darwin today.

A team of 14 engineers had to be flown from the UK to India’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport where it has been stranded since June 14.

Its prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could remain stranded in a foreign country for so long.

The HMS Prince of Wales is on an eight month overseas mission and is carrying up to two dozen Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II aircraft, including 809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) “Immortals” and Royal Air Force (RAF) 617 Squadron “The Dambusters.” Nine Merlin anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters from 820 NAS are also aboard, with three designed for Airborne and Control (ASaC) operations.

Originally published as Stranded F-35 fighter jet leaves India for Darwin to rejoin HMS Prince of Wales Strike Group