Thiruvananthapuram: The UK’s HMS Prince of Wales-led Carrier Strike Group has reached Singapore for joint exercises — but without one of its F-35 fighter jets, which remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport due to a hydraulic snag. The expert team to carry out the repairs is yet to arrive. Sources said that if on-site repairs are not successful, the fighter jet may need to be moved out in a military transport aircraft.The fighter jet on a routine flight made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport after facing difficulty landing on its aircraft carrier due to low fuel. However, it subsequently developed a snag, preventing its departure. The pilots have since returned.Efforts by the aircraft carrier’s crew, who flew in multiple times by helicopter, failed to repair the jet. A statement from the British High Commission said that a specialist team from the UK is expected to arrive to carry out repairs. However, they have not yet reached the site. The aircraft will remain in the airport’s parking bay until the team arrives. Only then will it be moved to a hangar.The rest of the Carrier Strike Group has proceeded to Singapore with 11 other F-35 jets. Airport sources had earlier said the airport will calculate a parking fee for the fighter jet and that they are yet to calculate the amount that needs to be charged. The fighter jet is parked in Bay 4, used by VIP aircraft. It is not hampering aircraft movement at the airport because the flight traffic is low.Usually, the airport operator charges a parking fee based on the aircraft’s weight. But the fighter jet is lightweight and it is not a scheduled flight. So the same yardstick may not be applicable in this case.
