New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) With regard to the British F-35B stealth jet that is grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the UK government said today the aircraft was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, and that it has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport.

The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft, said a British High Commission spokesperson today.The UK High Commission said: “We are aware of significant speculation and interest in this matter. Any further statements will be shared through official channels.”The spokesperson said: “A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft.

“The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support.”

UNI RN