diff --git a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/custom_object_launcher.py b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/custom_object_launcher.py
index a83bc7a3de387..c3a20af81be92 100644
--- a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/custom_object_launcher.py
+++ b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/custom_object_launcher.py
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ def pod_manager(self) -> PodManager:
 
     def get_body(self):
         self.body: dict = SparkJobSpec(**self.template_body["spark"])
-        self.body.metadata = {"name": self.name, "namespace": self.namespace}
+        if not hasattr(self.body, "metadata") or not isinstance(self.body.metadata, dict):
+            self.body.metadata = {}
+        self.body.metadata.update({"name": self.name, "namespace": self.namespace})
         if self.template_body.get("kubernetes"):
             k8s_spec: dict = KubernetesSpec(**self.template_body["kubernetes"])
             self.body.spec["volumes"] = k8s_spec.volumes
diff --git a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/tests/unit/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_custom_object_launcher.py b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/tests/unit/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_custom_object_launcher.py
index eab85e5a87339..078547af56183 100644
--- a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/tests/unit/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_custom_object_launcher.py
+++ b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/tests/unit/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_custom_object_launcher.py
@@ -213,6 +213,27 @@ def get_pod_status(self, reason: str, message: str | None = None):
             ]
         )
 
+    def test_get_body_initializes_metadata_when_missing(self, mock_launcher):
+        mock_launcher.template_body["spark"].pop("metadata", None)
+        body = mock_launcher.get_body()
+        assert isinstance(body["metadata"], dict)
+        assert body["metadata"]["name"] == mock_launcher.name
+        assert body["metadata"]["namespace"] == mock_launcher.namespace
+
+    def test_get_body_replaces_non_dict_metadata(self, mock_launcher):
+        mock_launcher.template_body["spark"]["metadata"] = "not-a-dict"
+        body = mock_launcher.get_body()
+        assert isinstance(body["metadata"], dict)
+        assert body["metadata"]["name"] == mock_launcher.name
+        assert body["metadata"]["namespace"] == mock_launcher.namespace
+
+    def test_get_body_preserves_existing_metadata_labels(self, mock_launcher):
+        mock_launcher.template_body["spark"]["metadata"] = {"labels": {"team": "data"}}
+        body = mock_launcher.get_body()
+        assert body["metadata"]["labels"]["team"] == "data"
+        assert body["metadata"]["name"] == mock_launcher.name
+        assert body["metadata"]["namespace"] == mock_launcher.namespace
+
     @patch("airflow.providers.cncf.kubernetes.operators.custom_object_launcher.PodManager")
     def test_start_spark_job_no_error(self, mock_pod_manager, mock_launcher):
         mock_launcher.start_spark_job()