"Kerala, a destination you'd never want to leave", the Kerala Tourism Department posted on X on 2/7.
The accompanying image, an AI-generated picture, depicts a British F-35B stealth fighter jet parked in front of a row of palm trees, with the caption: "Kerala is awesome. I don’t wanna leave. Will surely recommend 5 stars".
The Kerala Tourism Department's post quickly went viral, garnering approximately 1.1 million views.
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The British F-35B fighter jet featured in the Kerala tourism campaign. Photo: X/@KeralaTourism |
The British F-35B fighter jet featured in the Kerala tourism campaign. Photo: X/@KeralaTourism
"This is our tourism campaign, one of the most creative and engaging. It’s all about humor and creativity", said Biju K., head of the Kerala Tourism Department.
Kerala is a popular tourist destination in India, welcoming over 22 million visitors in 2024. The state boasts diverse natural landscapes, a rich culture, and varied cuisine.
The British F-35B fighter jet, part of the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier's fleet, made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the capital of Kerala, on the night of 14/6 due to inclement weather and low fuel. The aircraft subsequently experienced hydraulic system problems that have yet to be resolved, despite the efforts of British technicians, leaving it grounded at the Indian airport.
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The British F-35B fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram airport in a photo posted on 15/6. Photo: The Hindu |
The British F-35B fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram airport in a photo posted on 15/6. Photo: The Hindu
A spokesperson for the British High Commission in India stated last week that London had approved moving the F-35B to a maintenance area at Thiruvananthapuram airport for repairs. However, this will only proceed once the British technical team and specialized equipment arrive in Kerala.
The British Ministry of Defence has not commented on the incident.
Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, NDTV)
