A British F-35B stealth fighter jet, stranded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala for 18 days, has unexpectedly sparked a wave of social media memes, capturing the attention of the Kerala Tourism Department, which has embraced the situation with a playful twist.
In a humorous post on X, the tourism department remarked that the fighter jet seemed “not willing to leave” because “Kerala is a place you never want to leave.” Accompanying this cheeky comment was an AI-generated image of the F-35B, along with a fictitious five-star review declaring, “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 catalyzing the viral meme.
The F-35B, which boasts advanced stealth capabilities and is designed for short take-off and vertical landing, made an emergency landing in Kerala while returning from a joint maritime exercise with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific. Since its unexpected arrival, the aircraft has endured the region’s tropical heat and monsoon rains.
This unplanned stay has led to an outpouring of online humor, with one popular meme going so far as to list the jet “for sale.” Others have drawn comparisons to a well-known scene from the Malayalam cult classic film Vellanakalude Nadu, where a malfunctioning road roller causes bureaucratic headaches. Additionally, users have playfully speculated about potential parking fees for the stationary warplane.
Although the F-35B is a highly advanced piece of military equipment, its extended stay in Kerala has inadvertently turned it into an unexpected symbol for the state’s allure, demonstrating that even military technology can be subject to the unique charm of Kerala’s cultural landscape and its thriving meme culture.
