[Report by Ouanchao Net, 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. This incident has sparked 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, it is widely believed 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 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 severe issues, repairs have not been successful. According to British media, the fighter is currently guarded by six Royal Air Force personnel around the clock.
On July 3rd, BBC reported that on social media platform X (originally Twitter), there were jokes suggesting that the F-35B had spent so long in India 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 and started a “hell joke” with it, saying that the F-35B doesn’t move is because it has learned the old British habit of not wanting to leave India. Some people directly suggested that India should charge rent, allowing the British to exchange the crown jewels of the “Light of the World” for it. This legendary 105-carat diamond was produced in the Kolar mine in India and presented to the Queen of England by the Sikh king in the 19th century. There has been a voice from the Indian public calling on the British side to return it.
On July 2nd, the Kerala Tourism Department also joined in the fun, sharing an AI-generated “promotional poster,” accompanied by the caption “Kerala, a place you can’t resist returning to.” On the poster, an F-35B is parked on a runway surrounded by coconut trees, with text written in the F-35B’s voice: “Kerala is a magical place, I don’t want to leave. It’s absolutely recommended.”
As of the time of this report, the poster has received over 1.3 million views and 20,000 likes. The Kerala Tourism Department seems quite satisfied with the popularity of this campaign. The department secretary Biju K. told Reuters on the 3rd, “This is part of our tourism promotional activities. It is one of the most innovative and attractive promotional campaigns… Everything is full of humor and creativity.”
However, the British are not as pleased with the popularity brought about by the F-35B’s lingering. “An advanced British fighter jet has been stranded at an airport in India for nearly three weeks, raising curiosity abroad and voices questioning why such a modern aircraft would be stranded for so long,” BBC wrote.
The report introduced that the F-35B is an advanced stealth fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation in the United States, 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 is likely to negatively impact the image of both the F-35B and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
According to a report by the UK’s Defense Journal, Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative Party MP from the opposition, has asked the British 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 the Centre for Security, Strategic and Technology Studies at the Indian Institute of Observers, stated frankly that such situations are very unsatisfactory. “Every day the fighter is delayed adds to the negative perception,” he said. “This situation is a terrible PR event for a professional navy.”
“If this were happening on enemy territory, would they still take so long? For a professional navy, it’s incredibly bad public relations,” said Patil. “Jokes, memes, rumors, and conspiracy theories are damaging the image and credibility of the Royal Navy. The longer the fighter is delayed, the more misinformation there will be.”
He pointed out that most military forces prepare for “worst-case scenarios,” and the prolonged delay of a fighter jet 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 Royal Navy currently has only two options: either repair the fighter to fly again or use a large transport aircraft like the 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 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.