NEW DELHI — A British F-35B fighter jet stranded at an Indian airport for almost a month, sparking memes and cartoons on social media, is anticipated to fly again dwelling as early as subsequent week, Indian officers mentioned.
The stealth fighter, one of many world’s most superior and costing round $115 million, is stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Worldwide Airport within the southern state of Kerala attributable to a technical snag and is being repaired by U.Okay. engineers, officers mentioned. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they aren’t licensed to talk to media.
The jet was on a daily sortie within the Arabian Sea final month when it bumped into dangerous climate and couldn’t return to the Royal Navy’s flagship plane service, the HMS Prince of Wales, officers mentioned.
The plane was then diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, the place it landed safely on June 14. Officers mentioned engineers hope to restore the airplane within the subsequent few days earlier than it might fly again to U.Okay. someday subsequent week.
The stranded navy plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, has triggered A.I.-generated memes in India. In a social media publish, the tourism division of Kerala confirmed the plane on the tarmac surrounded by coconut timber and posting a fictitious five-star evaluate. “Kerala is such an incredible place, I don’t wish to depart. Positively advocate,” it mentioned.
The state’s high official on the tourism division, Okay. Biju, mentioned the publish was put out in “good humor.”
“It was our option to admire and thank the Brits who’re the most important inbound guests to Kerala for tourism,” mentioned Biju.
One other cartoon posted on X confirmed the airplane having fun with snacks with a gaggle of locals in opposition to a scenic background.
The British Excessive Fee confirmed to the The Related Press {that a} U.Okay. engineering crew has been deployed to “assess and restore” the plane.
There was hypothesis in India that if the engineers fail to rectify the plane, it may very well be partially dismantled and transported in a cargo airplane. The U.Okay.’s Ministry of Protection dismissed the hypothesis in an emailed assertion.