British Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing in India Amid Middle East Deployment
A British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in India on Saturday night, June 14, after his F-35 fighter jet experienced a low fuel situation while en route to the Middle East.
The fighter jet, reportedly deployed as part of the UK’s military build-up in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, landed safely at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time.
According to local reports, the pilot declared an emergency mid-flight and requested permission to land after noticing dangerously low fuel levels. “The pilot reported low fuel and asked for permission to land. Everything was handled quickly and professionally,” a local airport source told The Hindustan Times.
Authorities at the airport promptly declared an emergency to facilitate the jet’s landing, which was successfully executed without incident. The aircraft remains grounded at the airport pending approval from India’s central government for refueling and further movement.
Reports suggest the jet had taken off from an aircraft carrier warship operating near the region as part of contingency measures prompted by growing hostilities involving Iran and Israel. The UK Ministry of Defence has not yet commented on the incident.
The emergency landing occurred just hours after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the country was increasing its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of fighter jets and other assets. The move followed warnings from Iran threatening to target Western military bases in the region if further support is extended to Israel.
Speaking ahead of the G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Starmer said: “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support. I will be clear-eyed in relation to our duties and obligations.”
As regional tensions heighten, the UK has refrained from directly participating in missile defense for Israel, despite its past involvement. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continue to exchange missile strikes, with Israeli forces claiming recent gains over Tehran’s air defense systems.
The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as investigations into the RAF jet’s emergency landing continue.
