In an extraordinary turn of events, Air India has unearthed a 43-year-old Boeing 737-200 that had mysteriously disappeared from its operational and asset records for an entire decade. The aircraft, bearing registration VT-EHH, was found languishing at Kolkata Airport for 13 years. Airport authorities eventually brought it to Air India’s attention by issuing a demand for nearly 1 crore rupees in accrued parking fees.
The aircraft’s operational life began in 1982 with Indian Airlines. It was subsequently leased to Alliance Air in 1998, and after its return in 2007, it was adapted for cargo services by India Post. By 2012, the plane was retired. However, rather than being formally decommissioned, it was simply left at the airport and was inadvertently erased from the airline’s asset management system.
Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, confirmed this significant administrative gap, revealing the airline only became aware of its ownership of the forgotten aircraft after being contacted by Kolkata airport officials. This failure in record-keeping meant the aircraft was not factored into any financial assessments, including depreciation, insurance, or maintenance planning. It was also completely omitted from the inventory during the recent acquisition by the Tata Group.
A peculiar detail is that this Boeing 737 was the only one out of ten retired Air India jets to retain its original Pratt & Whitney engines, a stark contrast to others that were stripped for parts. The 13-year parking bill amounted to approximately 1 crore rupees. The aircraft has since been relocated to Bengaluru, where it will serve a new purpose as a vital training asset for maintenance engineers. This episode serves as a stark reminder of the importance of meticulous record-keeping and asset validation.
