"The British F-35B, previously stranded at Thiruvananthapuram airport due to weather and technical issues, has finally departed for Darwin after extensive repairs, much to the delight of social media users who had turned its predicament into a source of humor."
"Stranded Jet Takes Flight: The F-35B's Meme-Worthy Journey Ends in India"
"Stranded Jet Takes Flight: The F-35B's Meme-Worthy Journey Ends in India"
"After weeks as a social media sensation, the F-35B fighter jet leaves India for Australia, following repairs."
A British F-35B fighter jet, which became a viral sensation due to its unexpected five-week stay at an Indian airport, has finally taken to the skies again. The aircraft, initially diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala on June 14 after encountering bad weather on a mission in the Indian Ocean, was undergoing repairs that delayed its departure. An airport spokesperson confirmed that the jet is now en route to Darwin, Australia.
The prolonged presence of the state-of-the-art jet sparked widespread curiosity, raising questions on how a sophisticated aircraft could remain grounded for so long in a foreign land. The British High Commission announced its departure on Tuesday morning, noting that a UK engineering team had been dispatched to India since July 6 to complete repairs and conduct necessary safety checks.
The F-35B is a part of the fleet associated with the HMS Prince of Wales, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier currently engaging in joint exercises off the coast of Australia. While the reasons for its travel to Darwin remain unspecified, it is believed to be linked to the carrier’s ongoing operations.
Initially unable to return due to technical malfunction, engineers deployed from the HMS Prince of Wales tried fixing the aircraft on site. When they encountered challenges, the UK Ministry of Defence subsequently sent a 14-person engineering team to assess and repair the fighter jet. There were even discussions that if repairs were not successful, the aircraft might need to be disassembled and transported via a larger aircraft, such as a C-17 Globemaster.
The incident captured significant media attention not only for the aircraft's hefty $110 million price tag but also for the humorous memes it inspired. The “lonely F-35B,” as it was dubbed, stirred creativity online, with users joking about everything from selling the jet at a bargain price to claiming it deserved Indian citizenship.
Even the Kerala tourism department joined the banter, posting on social media with an AI-generated image of the jet against palm trees, playfully suggesting that the F-35B had fallen in love with the scenic region, famously known as 'God's Own Country.'
As it finally departed, social media users bid farewell to the stray jet, affectionately noting its month-long 'vacation' in India and wishing it well on its impending journey.
