C-17 Globemaster could play starring role in British F-35B’s rescue from India

A Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing C-17 Globemaster could play a starring role in the rescue of a stranded British F-35B fighter jet that has been stuck in India since June 14, 2025.  

According to NDTV, an option currently being explored is to dismantle the F-35B and airlift the stealth fighter from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) in Kerala aboard the transport aircraft. 

The fighter, a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II, became stuck at the airport in Southern India after it was unable to return to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier due to weather conditions. 

While stationed at the airport, the F-35B developed an engineering issue. It has since been under 24-hour guard while a solution to retrieve the jet is sought.  

“The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed,” a spokesperson the British High Commission in India has said. 

Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35BAccording to claims in a News 18 article on July 4, 2025, a rescue team of 40 people is due to arrive at the airport and fix the aircraft.  

“The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed,” the British High Commission said. 

An offer to move the jet to a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Thiruvananthapuram Airport has been accepted by UK authorities.  

Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave.Thank you, The Fauxy.#F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism pic.twitter.com/3lei66a5T2— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) July 2, 2025 Technical and engineering staff will arrive with specialist equipment and carry out their work in private. 

Dr Sameer Patil, director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation in Mumbai, told the BBC that there are two outcomes for the F-35B.  

“They can repair it and make it fly-worthy, or they can fly it out in a bigger cargo plane such as a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft,” Dr Patil said. 

RELATED

UK to buy 12 F-35A stealth fighters to restore airborne nuclear deterrent

The post C-17 Globemaster could play starring role in British F-35B’s rescue from India appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source