British stealth jet grounded in Kerala for over a month takes off after repairs and viral memes

New Delhi, July 22, 2025

A British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, grounded in India for over six weeks, finally took off from Hindon Air Base today. Mechanical faults and delayed spare parts had kept the jet stuck, turning it into a viral sensation online.

The fighter jet arrived in India in early June for a UK-India joint air drill. It had to remain grounded after developing a hydraulic system fault. Defense sources said the UK flew in critical components to repair the aircraft. However, bureaucratic hurdles and customs clearances contributed to the delay, turning the incident into an unintended diplomatic spectacle.

Images and videos of the idle jet in Delhi’s summer heat quickly went viral on Indian and British social media. Memes humorously called it “India’s newest museum piece” and “the UK’s longest-parked visitor.” Several parody accounts sprang up online, mocking the situation with memes comparing the high-tech aircraft to long-abandoned Indian railway wagons.

Officials from the British High Commission in New Delhi thanked the Indian Air Force for hosting the aircraft and maintaining it during the delay. “This was an unforeseen technical issue that required parts from our supply chain back in Europe. We appreciate the cooperation extended by Indian authorities,” a spokesperson said.

Indian defense analysts have used the episode to emphasize the challenges of relying on global supply chains for high-maintenance platforms. “Even the most advanced military systems depend on strong logistics,” said Air Marshal Rakesh Sharma (Retd.). He called the incident a cautionary tale and praised India’s push to cut import reliance under the Make in India initiative.

The British pilot assigned to the jet had been waiting at the base since June. During the downtime, he took part in simulator sessions and briefings with IAF personnel. “It’s not ideal to be grounded this long,” the pilot said before departure.

The jet’s return flight aligns with the upcoming UK-India Strategic Dialogue in London next week, where officials plan to highlight defense cooperation. The incident, though minor in operational terms, has become symbolic of deeper logistical dependencies and defense interoperability.

With the Eurofighter now headed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, social media is celebrating its long-awaited “freedom.” One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) joked: “He came, he chilled, he conquered our memes and now he flies again.”

Sources