Archive · 23 Jul 2025
British F-35 Recovery Echoes Daring Mirage Rescue by IAF
Imagine a fighter jet got stuck far away from home!
That's what happened to a Mirage 2000 in Mauritius, which the Indian Air Force had to bring back.
It was like a very long trip across the ocean.
The pilot, Sqn Ldr Jaspreet Singh, was super brave and refueled in the air.
He got a medal for his daring flight.
Now, a similar thing happened to a British jet, reminding everyone of the risky flight.
A British F-35B jet was recovered from Thiruvananthapuram, recalling a daring IAF Mirage 2000 rescue.
The Mirage 2000 had crash-landed in Mauritius and was recovered after 22 days in a risky operation.
Sqn Ldr Jaspreet Singh piloted the Mirage 2000, completing three mid-air refuelings over the Indian Ocean.
The F-35B suffered a technical issue and landed in Thiruvananthapuram for 37 days of repair.
Jaspreet Singh received a gallantry medal for the Mirage 2000 rescue mission.
- Who
- Sqn Ldr Jaspreet Singh (Mirage pilot), British and Indian engineers.
- What
- The recovery of a British F-35B jet and recall of the IAF's Mirage 2000 rescue mission.
- When
- The F-35B was recovered on Tuesday and the Mirage 2000 was recovered in 2004.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Ocean, Mauritius
- Why
- The F-35B had a technical issue, and the Mirage 2000 had crash-landed, necessitating recovery.
Challenges
Heroism
Flight Difficulties
Challenges
Flying a single-engine jet over vast stretches of ocean with no alternative landing sites.
Heroism
Taking off with very little fuel and dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.
- Mirage 2000 Crash
- Sir Seewoosagur-Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius
- Mirage 2000 Pilot
- Sqn Ldr Jaspreet Singh
- Mirage 2000 Flight Distance
- 2126 nautical miles
- F-35B Landing Location
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- Jaspreet Singh Medal
- Vayu Sena (Gallantry)
- Mirage 2000 Repair Time
- 10 days (first test flight after crash)