Ankara: A British F-35B fighter jet that had been grounded in southern India for over a month successfully departed on Tuesday, heading back to the United Kingdom. The aircraft had been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala since June 14, following an emergency landing caused by technical issues.

According to Anadolu Agency, the jet was involved in operations with the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The carrier facilitated the necessary support for the repair and eventual departure of the aircraft. A team of UK engineers was dispatched to India to address the technical problems and ensure the jet's airworthiness for the return journey.

Initially, media reports suggested that the fighter jet might need to be partially dismantled and transported back to the UK via a military cargo plane. However, these plans were not needed, as the aircraft was repaired on-site and able to fly out of India independently.

The incident sparked interest in Kerala, with local media capturing footage of the jet's departure. The state's tourism sector took advantage of the situation, using the jet's presence to promote Kerala as a travel destination. A viral social media post from Kerala Tourism humorously depicted the fighter jet amidst the state's iconic coconut palm trees, with a caption praising Kerala as a destination worth visiting.