[Report by Ouanchao.com, Shao Yun]
Due to adverse weather conditions and a sudden malfunction, a F-35B stealth fighter jet from the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom has been stranded in the southern tourist destination of Kerala, India, for nearly three weeks, sparking collective ridicule within India. Not only have netizens tirelessly created memes about this “lonely F-35,” but the Kerala tourism department has also taken the initiative to humorously refer to the F-35B as being “infatuated with the beauty and lost in it.”
The “lonely” F-35B stranded at an airport amidst rain
It is reported that last month, the “Prince of Wales” aircraft carrier arrived in the Asia-Pacific region to carry out missions, claiming to demonstrate support for “international order.” However, there is widespread belief among the public that this visit was aimed at China. On the evening of June 14, during a mission in the Indian Ocean, one of the F-35B fighters on board the carrier suddenly encountered severe weather, repeatedly failed to land on the carrier. Due to fuel shortages, it chose to make an emergency landing at Trivandrum International Airport in Kerala.
Engineers from the Royal Navy subsequently arrived at the airport, completing the refueling, but discovered a hydraulic system failure in the fighter, preventing it from returning to the carrier. Consequently, they had to set up a warning alert on site. Over the past 20 days, the British side has dispatched technical teams multiple times, but due to a lack of spare parts and serious faults, repairs have not been successful. According to British media, the fighter is currently guarded by six Royal Air Force personnel around the clock.
BBC reported on July 3 that on social media platform X (originally Twitter), someone joked that the F-35B had been stranded in India for so long that it could apply for Indian citizenship. A popular post mocked that the fighter had actually been listed for sale on a website, priced at just $4 million. It even went so far as to “seriously” introduce its features, including “automatic parking, new tires, new batteries, and an automatic cannon capable of destroying illegal vehicles.”
Some netizens have started to think of the colonial history as a “hell joke,” suggesting that the F-35B’s refusal to depart is a nod to the British habit of staying in India, which they say is difficult for them to leave. Some have even suggested that India should start charging rent, offering the British Crown Jewels from the “Lighthouse of Light” as a trade. This 105-carat legendary diamond was mined in the Kolar mines in India and presented to the Queen of England in the 19th century. There has been a long-standing call from Indians for the British to return it.
On July 2nd, the Kerala Tourism Department joined in on the fun, sharing an AI-generated “promotional poster” with the tagline “Kerala, a place you won’t want to leave.” On the poster, an F-35B is parked on a runway surrounded by coconut trees, with the text written in the voice of the F-35B: “Kerala is a magical place I don’t want to leave. Absolutely recommended.”
As of this report, the poster has received over 1.3 million views and 20,000 likes. The Kerala Tourism Department seems quite pleased with its popularity. Secretary Biju K. told Reuters on the 3rd that “This is part of our tourism promotion campaign. It’s one of the most innovative and appealing promotional campaigns… Everything is full of humor and creativity.”
However, the British are not so amused by the attention drawn to the F-35B’s prolonged stay. “An advanced British fighter jet has been stranded at an airport in India for nearly three weeks, raising curiosity and questions about why such a modern aircraft would be stranded abroad for so long,” BBC reported.
The report mentioned that the F-35B is an advanced stealthy fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, valued at approximately $110 million. However, it has been “strangely” stranded at an Indian airport for so long, raising concerns within the UK about potential leaks.
Experts have pointed out that this incident might negatively impact the image of F-35B and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
According to a report by the UK Defense Journal, Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative Party MP from the opposition in the UK, has asked the government this week for details on the measures taken to ensure the safety and operational readiness of fighter jets. He questioned in the House of Commons: “How will the government ensure the security of protected technology when fighters are parked in hangars and not visible?”
Dr. Sameer Patil, Director of Security, Strategic and Technology at the Indian Institute of Observers, stated frankly that such situations are very unsatisfactory. Every day the fighters are delayed adds to the negative impact on the image of F-35B and the Royal Navy of the UK.
“If this incident were to occur on hostile territory, would they still take so long? For a professional navy, this is a terrible PR event,” said Patil. “Jokes, memes, rumors, and conspiracy theories are damaging the image and credibility of the Royal Navy. The longer the fighters are delayed, the more misinformation there will be.”
He pointed out that most military forces prepare for “worst-case scenarios”, and the prolonged delay of fighters on foreign soil clearly falls into one of these worst-case scenarios. “Most military forces have standard operating procedures (SOP) for such events… Does the Royal Navy have SOPs?” he analyzed. The British Army currently has only two options: either repair the fighter to fly again or use a large transport aircraft like C-17 to move it away.
In response to various voices, the UK High Commissioner’s Office could only issue a statement on the 3rd, stating that the UK has accepted the proposal for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the aircraft. “Once the maintenance and safety checks are completed, the fighter will be recommissioned.”
The ground crew will continue to work closely with the Indian authorities to ensure compliance with safety and preventive measures. Trivandrum Airport stated that they expect technical personnel from the UK to arrive on the 5th.
This article is an observation by China News Service, and does not constitute a part of any other publication.