A British F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram airport late Saturday night. The jet, part of the UK's Prince of Wales aircraft carrier group, ran low on fuel during a flight over the Indian Ocean. The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed it helped ensure the aircraft’s safe landing. The jet had recently taken part in drills with the Indian Navy. Experts say the landing is unusual but not rare. Bad weather near the carrier may have stopped it from landing there. The fighter is now parked at the airport. No official comment yet from the UK. (PC: ANI)

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a critical advisory amid escalating Iran‑Israel hostilities. Indian nationals, residents or visitors are urged to remain vigilant, limit non‑essential travel, and strictly follow local safety directives. Dedicated hotline numbers have been activated including two telephone lines (+98 9128109115, +98 9128109109), WhatsApp contacts (+98 901044557, +98 9015993320, +91 8086871709), and regional helplines in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan to ensure prompt support during emergencies. A Telegram channel has also been launched to deliver real‑time updates. The embassy’s initiative seeks to safeguard the Indian community as direct strikes between Iran and Israel persist for a third day, causing casualties and disrupting normal life. (PC: NDTV)

A British F‑35B Lightning II stealth fighter from the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Saturday (June 14, 2025) after critically low fuel during a sortie over the Arabian Sea . Adverse weather near the carrier likely prevented a safe deck recovery . The Indian Air Force confirmed the diversion was routine and provided full assistance for flight safety . The jet, unharmed, now awaits refuelling clearance and is parked securely under tight security. The incident underscores enhancing UK‑India military cooperation in the Indo‑Pacific region.

Amid open Israel–Iran hostilities, anxiety grips three Punjab villages as families await the return of Husanpreet Singh (27), Amritpal Singh (23) and Jaspal Singh (32). The three men were kidnapped in Tehran by human traffickers claiming to offer legal migration to Australia after they’d paid ₹18 lakh each. Rescued by Iranian police on June 3, the men reported “torture videos and ransom threats” but were said to be safe and heading to the Indian embassy. Families trusted official assurances, but escalating military exchanges between Israel and Iran, delays in travel documents and new diplomatic complexities have intensified fears. They now simply pray: “We just want them home.” (PC: Al Jazeera & France 24)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Qingdao, China, on June 24–25 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting. This marks his first ministerial-level visit to China since the October 2024 troop withdrawal agreement following the 2020 Galwan clash. His attendance underscores India’s commitment to stabilising bilateral ties and supporting China’s SCO presidency. Discussions are expected to cover reviving the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, restoring air connectivity, sharing hydrological data, easing visa processes, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. Singh last met his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, at Laos’s ADMM‑Plus, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently met Vice‑Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in New Delhi to reaffirm “people-centric engagements”. (PC: Business Standard)

On the night of June 14, a British F‑35 fighter jet performed an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Air traffic authorities declared an emergency to facilitate a swift, controlled touchdown. According to PTI, the aircraft reportedly launched from a UK carrier roughly 100 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast diverted due to critically low fuel levels. Despite the in‑flight emergency, the jet landed safely around 9:30 pm, and subsequent refuelling allowed it to resume its mission. The incident underscores the vital challenges of fuel management in military aviation and highlights effective crisis coordination between international flight crews and airport services for safe outcomes. (PC: UK Defence Journal)

Two days after Flight AI‑171’s crash in Ahmedabad, the death toll rose to 274—241 aboard and 33 on the ground. At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, mortuary staff await DNA clearance before handing over remains, a process taking about 72 hours. Only 19 bodies have been identified so far. Charred and unrecognisable, victims’ families endure a painful wait in sweltering heat, holding out hope. Empty coffins arrived from Vadodara as some mourners, including the father of a teen killed near a tea stall, arrive seeking closure. Air India and Tata Sons have announced combined relief of ₹1.25 crore per victim. Authorities continue forensic investigations at the site. (PC: PTI & News18)

Turkey’s government has officially denied allegations that Turkish Technic maintained the Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner involved in the deadly Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, calling the claims “baseless disinformation” and harmful to Turkey–India relations. The clarification states that maintenance contracts in 2024–25 between Air India and Turkish Technic were solely for Boeing 777 aircraft excluding the crashed 787‑8. The denial came after Baba Ramdev claimed a “foreign conspiracy” pointing to Turkish involvement. Turkish authorities emphasised their Centre for Disinformation will monitor false narratives. Meanwhile, India’s DGCA is inspecting all of Air India’s 787 fleet ahead of regulatory clearance. (PC: The New York Times, Reuters & The Times Of India)

India clarified it did not participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s June 14 statement strongly denouncing Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iran, which targeted military and civilian infrastructure with civilian casualties . New Delhi maintained its long-standing position, expressed June 13, urging both Iran and Israel to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to de‑escalate tensions . External Affairs Minister Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart to convey global concern and pressed for restraint and a return to diplomacy . India emphasized its independent foreign policy within multilateral platforms like SCO. (PC: Reuters)

Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, slamming into a BJ Medical College hostel and canteen. Of 242 onboard, 241 died; at least 33 more perished on the ground. Only one passenger survived. The black box was recovered, though the voice recorder remains missing. India’s aviation regulator mandated fleet‑wide Boeing 787 inspections, including engine and thrust checks. The DGCA‑ordered safety reviews are ongoing. Air India is providing an interim ₹25 lakh, plus medical care and relief flights, and deploying support teams on site. (PC: ABC & AP News)