A British F-35B fighter jet that has remained grounded at an Indian airport for more than five weeks is finally set to depart on Tuesday, according to airport officials.

The stealth aircraft, stationed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala since mid-June, is expected to be moved from the hangar today in preparation for take-off. “It will be pulled out today, with departure scheduled for Tuesday,” a spokesperson told the BBC. He added that further technical specifics were not available at the moment.

The jet was diverted to the southern Indian city on 14 June after encountering adverse weather during a sortie over the Indian Ocean. It subsequently suffered a mechanical issue, rendering it unable to return to its host vessel the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales.

Its extended stay on Indian soil stirred widespread interest and led to speculation about the severity of the malfunction, especially given the aircraft’s cutting-edge design and reputation for reliability.

Initial repair efforts by engineers from the Royal Navy were unsuccessful. Roughly two weeks ago, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that a 14-member specialist team had been flown in to assess and carry out repairs. The team reportedly brought specialized tools and equipment essential for the recovery operation.

Footage from the scene showed the aircraft being towed to a hangar, sparking further discussion on whether it would need to be dismantled and airlifted out via a heavy-duty transport aircraft like a C-17 Globemaster if repairs proved unworkable.

Throughout the process, both the UK High Commission in India and British defense authorities declined to comment publicly on the status of repairs.

On Monday, however, airport sources confirmed that the F-35B had been declared airworthy and would soon resume its journey. While its flight schedule and refueling stops en route to the UK remain unconfirmed, preparations are reportedly underway.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-35B is one of the world’s most sophisticated stealth jets, boasting short take-off and vertical landing capabilities. Each unit is estimated to cost around $110 million (£80 million).

Images of the stranded jet parked alone on the rain-slicked runway during Kerala’s monsoon season circulated widely online, becoming the subject of memes and jokes, some suggesting the jet had “fallen in love” with Kerala, often dubbed "God's Own Country."

The jet’s unusual predicament even drew attention in the UK Parliament, where its prolonged stranding was brought up in the House of Commons.