Kerala tourist board has some fun at expense of stranded Royal Navy F-35B Lightning jet

The Kerala tourist board has poked fun at the marooned Royal Navy F-35B Lightning jet, which has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since the middle of June.

The jet has been stuck in India after it had to make an emergency landing due to bad weather, while flying on a routine journey from HMS Prince of Wales on Carrier Strike Group 25.

A member of India's Central Industrial Security Force is reportedly guarding the solitary aircraft.  

• Stranded in India: How the UK might recover the stricken Royal Navy F-35B
• Royal Navy F-35 from CSG25 makes emergency landing at civilian airport in India
• Carrier Strike Group 25 sails towards Australia for the largest-ever Exercise Talisman Sabre

The Indian Air Force previously said that it would give any support required and help return the aircraft to the aircraft carrier.

"Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave," the tourist board said in a post on X with an image of the F-35B on tarmac in front of palm trees.

"Thank you, The Fauxy."

The post also added a TripAdvisor-style spoof review from the British jet, giving Kerala, a southwestern region in India, a five-star review.

"Kerala is such an amazing place, I don’t want to leave. Definitely recommend," the review on the post said.

A Royal Navy ground crew has attempted to repair the jet, but it has still not managed to get it airborne.

However, there are concerns about how the British military will get the multi-role aircraft back.

A C-17 Globemaster could be used to evacuate the isolated aircraft when it is finally up and ready to fly.

In addition, there are worries that India may look at the technology inside the UK military's most advanced jet, as it is being kept out in the open.

It is also tricky from a diplomatic sense as India and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, have close ties with Russia.

HMS Prince of Wales is currently on her way down towards Australia with the rest of the Carrier Strike Group in preparation for Exercise Talisman Sabre.

During Operation Highmast, the aircraft carrier and her multinational strike group will sail more than 30,000 miles as she visits the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific and Australia.

It involves around 4,500 British military personnel, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers, alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines

For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.