British Aircraft Carrier Set to Miss Flight Trials Off US Coast Over Malfunction

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which broke down off the Isle of Wight, is seen returning to the Solent off Portsmouth, Hampshire, on Aug. 29, 2022. PA

The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales could miss crucial flight trials with F-35B Lightning jets off the American coast after it suffered a problem with a propeller shaft.

The £3 billion carrier, which was commissioned in 2019, set sail from Portsmouth on Saturday amid great fanfare but had barely reached the open sea before it had to turn back because of an “emerging mechanical issue.”