Stranded British F-35 jet turns into viral Kerala tourism sensation

Thiruvananthapuram: What began as an emergency landing of a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has unexpectedly turned into a quirky and viral moment for Kerala Tourism.

The cutting-edge stealth jet, one of the UK’s most advanced and valued at over USD 110 million, was forced to land on June 14 due to a technical fault. While it remains grounded, awaiting repair by a team of aviation engineers flying in from the UK, the jet’s unexpected stay has captured the public’s imagination — and now, tourism marketing.

Kerala Tourism seized the opportunity with humour and creativity. In a widely shared post on social media platform ‘X’, it unveiled a cheeky poster featuring a stylised illustration of the jet parked against a serene Kerala backdrop of swaying coconut trees and lush greenery. The playful caption reads: "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend," attributed tongue-in-cheek to the "UK F-35B."

The campaign quickly went viral, sparking a wave of memes and user-generated content. One user, Sumona Chakraborty, joked, “Now it refuses to start without coconut oil,” referencing Kerala’s famous culinary staple. Another user, The ChagalaToka, created their own poster showing the fighter jet parked outside a roadside tea shop, enjoying toddy and banana chips with the caption: “No wonder it refuses to leave now — bro found peace, toddy and banana chips.”Despite the humour and online frenzy, officials confirmed that the jet remains grounded due to the technical issue and is under the care of Indian authorities until British engineers arrive to perform necessary repairs.

What began as a minor military hiccup has now become an accidental tourism promotion, blending defence with digital storytelling — Kerala-style.

With PTI inputs