**Breaking News: F-35 Emergency Landing Sparks Jamming Controversy in India**
In a dramatic turn of events, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning 2 stealth fighter made an emergency landing at Thuvanapam International Airport in Kerala, India, on June 15, 2025. The aircraft, operating from the HMS Prince of Wales, was forced to divert due to worsening weather and critically low fuel, but what followed ignited a firestorm of speculation online.
Rumors quickly spread across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Indian radar systems had jammed the F-35, compromising its advanced stealth capabilities. Some fringe reports claimed that India’s integrated air command and control system (IACCS) had locked onto the fighter jet, forcing it down in a stunning display of electronic warfare. The narrative suggested that India had achieved what many believed impossible: detecting and disabling one of the world’s most advanced military aircraft.
However, as the dust settled, the truth emerged, painting a starkly different picture. Official statements from the Indian Air Force clarified that there was no credible evidence of jamming or electronic interference. Instead, the F-35’s emergency landing was attributed to a hydraulic system failure, not a high-tech sabotage. During peacetime operations, stealth aircraft like the F-35 often use radar reflectors to avoid misidentification, which likely allowed it to be tracked without compromising its stealth.
The Indian Air Force described the incident as a routine diversion, offering full support to the British team, including runway clearance and refueling assistance. This behavior contradicts the notion of an electronic attack, indicating cooperation rather than confrontation.
As the sensational claims about jamming circulated, they were largely fueled by nationalistic fervor and misinterpretation of the IAF’s tracking capabilities. The reality is clear: the F-35’s emergency landing was a result of mechanical failure, not a clandestine victory in electronic warfare. The myth of Indian radar jamming remains just that—a myth, unsupported by evidence.