F-35B Fighter Jet's Unexpected Layover Boosts Kerala Tourism Spotlight
A British F-35B stealth fighter jet, grounded for 18 days at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram airport, has surprisingly become a focal point for social media memes, with the Kerala Tourism Department joining in on the amusement. In a playful post on X, the department joked that the jet was "not willing to leave" because "Kerala is a place you never want to leave."
The post featured an AI-generated image of the F-35B alongside a fictitious five-star review stating, "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don’t want to leave. Definitely recommend." The department expressed gratitude to the satirical platform "The Fauxy" for the inspiration behind the viral poster.
The F-35B, a fifth-generation stealth aircraft recognized for its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities, was en route back from a joint maritime exercise with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific when it had to make an emergency landing in Kerala’s capital. Part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, the aircraft has since endured Kerala's intense heat and seasonal rain.
The lengthy stay has sparked a wave of online humor. One meme humorously lists the jet "for sale," while another draws a parallel to a scene from the Malayalam cult film Vellanakalude Nadu, where a malfunctioning road roller becomes a bureaucratic headache. Social media users have also jested about the potential parking fees for the parked military jet.
Despite being a piece of sophisticated military technology, the F-35B’s unintended stopover in Kerala has turned it into an unlikely symbol of the state's tourism appeal, illustrating that even advanced aircraft can fall prey to Kerala’s relaxed charm and vibrant meme culture.
