Thiruvananthapuram: British fighter jet F-35 B, which landed at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14 following an emergency diversion, flew back on Tuesday after completing maintenance, a British High Commission Spokesperson said.

The jet, which took off at 10:50 am, flew to Darwin in Australia.

An engineering team from the UK, deployed since July 6, completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service.

“The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India,” the Spokesperson said.

The jet landed in Thiruvananthapuram 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.

Valued at over $110 million, the F-35 B is considered to be one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.

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