Thiruvananthapuram: The British F-35 fighter jet that made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is expected to fly back by July 23, Adani airport authorities told Onmanorama.

The jet had landed on June 14 after running out of fuel during a military exercise in the Arabian Sea. It had taken off from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and was forced to land just hours into the flight. Expert inspections later revealed faults in the hydraulic and starting systems, delaying its return despite initial repair attempts.

A British team of specially trained aviation engineers arrived in Thiruvananthapuram last Sunday aboard a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M. The team is stationed at the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and has successfully resolved the technical issues. It remains unclear whether the F-35 will take off on its own or be retrieved using a carrier aircraft.

Valued at over $110 million, the F-35B is considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets. It is the only fifth-generation aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability, enabling operations from small airstrips and ship decks. Known as the 'Lightning' in British service, the jet is part of the Royal Navy's front-line aviation assets.