Kerala’s Social Media : Stranded UK F-35 Fighter Jet Turns Into a Travel Icon

Engineers are struggling to figure out how to fly the stranded British F-35 once more, but memes are flying high in Kerala. The Kerala government is competing with commercial companies to create a variety of memes based on the excellent fighter plane in what appears to be a real-time demonstration of moment marketing. The advertisement for Kerala tourism was only the beginning; clever branding and sardonic humor were served next.

Companies have taken advantage of the situation and bombarded the internet with pictures of the pilot enjoying tea, chowing down on Keralan food, and even looking for a marriage partner. Initially diverted during a sortie from the HMS Prince of Wales owing to poor weather over the Indian Ocean, the F-35B was unable to return to the aircraft carrier and made a safe landing in Thiruvananthapuram. Since then, the aircraft has encountered a technical issue and is presently awaiting repairs. The problem has not been fixed despite several attempts by visiting engineering teams. Kerala’s marketers and meme creators started working on the jet while the engineers worked on it.

The first shot came from the state tourism department: “I do not want to leave Kerala because it is such a lovely place.” A humorous “review” that was attributed to the jet read, “Definitely suggest – with five stars.” After the post went viral, others quickly followed.

The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) gave it a business spin, emphasizing that the jet was there to investigate Kerala’s booming high-tech clusters rather than just take in the beauty. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, BrahMos Aerospace, Safran India, Keltron campus, IISER, IIST, and CET were among the locations mentioned by KSIDC. Adorable designs portray the plane as a tourist wearing sunglasses and taking photos.

This was created by our internal group. Its ability to conduct high-tech production and research and development in the cutting-edge space and defense industries is one of its distinctive advantages. Thiruvananthapuram is renowned for its stunning backwaters and beaches. It is less well known that the city is a desirable location for investments in the aerospace and defense industry due to its collection of technological and scientific research organizations. Through the campaign, we are drawing attention to this issue,” KSIDC Managing Director Mir Mohammed Ali stated.

The state’s dairy company, Milma, greeted the grounded aircraft with the catchy phrase, “Come on, who would not want a nice break anyway?” Kuthiravattam Pappu’s famous quote from the Malayalam film “Vellanakalude Naadu,” “Ippo sheriyakki tharam” (We will mend it now itself), was even used to inject a nostalgic punch.

“I do not want to leave Kerala because it is such a nice place,” was the first statement made by the state tourist department. The jet was given the amusing “review” that said, “Definitely suggest – with five stars.” Others soon followed when the post went viral.

The plane was there to explore Kerala’s thriving high-tech clusters, not only to admire the scenery, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) explained, giving it a corporate spin. KSIDC listed several locations, including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, BrahMos Aerospace, Safran India, Keltron campus, IISER, IIST, and CET. The jet is depicted in adorable graphics as a tourist taking pictures while sporting sunglasses.

Our internal group produced this. One of its unique advantages is its capacity to carry out high-tech production and research and development in the state-of-the-art space and defense industries. Thiruvananthapuram is well known for its breathtaking beaches and backwaters. Less well known is the fact that the city’s array of scientific and technological research institutions makes it an ideal place to invest in the aerospace and military sector. We are bringing attention to this issue through the campaign,” said Mir Mohammed Ali, Managing Director of KSIDC.

“Come on, who would not want a good break anyway?” was the memorable manner that Milma, the state’s dairy corporation, welcomed the grounded aircraft. “Ippo sheriyakki tharam” (We will mend it now itself), a well-known remark by Kuthiravattam Pappu from the Malayalam movie “Vellanakalude Naadu,” was also used to add a nostalgic touch.