Kerala Tourism Turns Fighter Jet Landing into Unique Opportunity

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 2 (PTI): An unexpected twist occurred at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where what started as an emergency landing of a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet has morphed into a delightful marketing opportunity for Kerala Tourism.

The jet, an integral unit of the UK's cutting-edge stealth aircraft lineup, is currently awaiting repairs. This brief brush with military exigency has inspired a new narrative, which is now playing out in the realms of travel and tourism rather than air bases and defense circles.

Kerala Tourism’s creative team seized the opportunity, releasing a captivating poster on their 'X' handle. The visual features the state-of-the-art fighter jet set against a quintessential Kerala backdrop of coconut palms and verdant landscapes.

The playful caption accompanying the image reads, "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend." The humorous twist lies in attributing the quote to "UK F-35B.”

Social media users have joined in on the amusement, creating a ripple of online buzz beyond just the poster. A user named Sumona Chakraborty quipped, "Now it refuses to start without coconut oil," a humorous nod to Kerala’s renowned culinary fondness for coconut oil.

Taking the jest up another notch, another user with the handle The ChagalaToka designed an image of the jet parked nonchalantly next to a roadside tea stall, indulging in banana chips. The caption reads, "No wonder it refuses to leave now -- bro found peace, toddy and banana chips."

The F-35B, valued at over USD 110 million and acclaimed as one of the most advanced fighter jets globally, had to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14. It remains grounded at the airport, awaiting technical repairs.

Aviation engineers from the UK are slated to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram soon to conduct the necessary repairs, according to officials.