A British F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram airport on the night of June 14, 2025, after the pilot reported low fuel and possible technical problems.The jet, believed to be part of a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, landed safely with support from Indian authorities.

Technical Glitch Forces Emergency Landing of British F-35 in Kerala

A British F-35 Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on the night of June 14, 2025. 

The advanced stealth jet, likely operating from a UK aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean, landed safely at 9:28 pm after the pilot reported a distress situation.

According to sources, the jet was running low on fuel, which led the pilot to issue an emergency distress signal, code SQUAWK 7700, while flying near the Kerala coast. 

The airport declared a full emergency, and the plane was safely brought down without any trouble. It was then moved to a secure area at the airport.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed it was aware of the situation and helped ensure the safe landing. 

The Defence Ministry said the emergency landing was a standard diversion procedure and that all necessary support was being provided.

While there is no official confirmation about the exact reason for the landing, sources believe the jet may have faced a technical issue. 

It's one of the most advanced jets in the world, built by the U.S. company Lockheed Martin, and is used by several NATO countries.

The jet was likely involved in a joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the UK's Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Sea earlier that week. Although tracking data shows the jet was flying near the U.S. West Coast the previous day, its whole travel route remains unclear.

After landing, the British Navy sent in a replacement pilot by helicopter around 5 pm on Sunday. The new pilot is currently staying at the airport.

The fighter jet will take off again after receiving clearance from India's Ministry of Defence and once its technical issues are resolved.