Air India Sells Forgotten Boeing 737 After Over 13 Years Idle

The Curious Case of Air India’s Forgotten Boeing 737

In the high-stakes world of aviation, where assets are worth millions and inventory is tracked with precision, it seems almost impossible to simply lose an airplane. Yet, in a revelation that underscores the massive administrative challenges inherited during the airline’s privatization, we have learned that Air India recently sold a Boeing 737-200 that had been forgotten for over a decade. The aircraft, a freighter sitting idle at a remote bay in Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, was only “rediscovered” when airport officials requested its removal.

This incident serves as a fascinating case study in the complexities of legacy airline management. We observe that the aircraft, registered as VT-EHH, was not included in the fixed-asset registers or depreciation schedules during the Tata Group’s acquisition of the airline in 2022. It was, for all intents and purposes, a ghost in the machine, a remnant of a bygone era of state-run bureaucracy that slipped through the cracks during one of the largest corporate transitions in Indian aviation history.

The sale of this asset marks more than just a financial transaction; we view it as a symbolic step in the airline’s ongoing modernization efforts. As the current management works to streamline operations and digitize records, the disposal of this “forgotten” freighter highlights the scale of the “cleanup” operation required to transform the carrier into a world-class entity. It brings to light the sheer volume of physical and administrative “cobwebs” that accumulated over years of public sector ownership.

Unearthing the Forgotten Asset

The discovery of the aircraft was not the result of an internal audit, but rather an external prompt. We understand that the sequence of events began when authorities at Kolkata Airport contacted Air India management to request the removal of an idle aircraft parked in a “very remote” bay. The plane had been stationary for so long that it had effectively blended into the background of the airfield’s operations. Upon receiving the request, the airline’s current leadership, led by CEO Campbell Wilson, had to investigate whether they actually owned the machine in question.

Internal investigations revealed that the aircraft had indeed been omitted from the books. In a candid internal note to employees, Wilson acknowledged the absurdity of the situation while using it as a teaching moment regarding the airline’s transformation. The transparency regarding this oversight suggests a shift in corporate culture, moving away from obfuscation toward addressing legacy issues head-on. The aircraft was subsequently sold, and ownership was transferred in late November 2025. While the specific buyer and price remain undisclosed, industry data suggests that scrap hulls of this vintage typically fetch between ₹17–18 lakh (approximately $20,000–$22,000).

We can analyze this event as a clear indicator of the chaotic record-keeping that plagued the airline prior to its privatization. When the Tata Group took over, the transaction involved thousands of assets and complex documentation. It appears that non-operational assets, particularly those written down and parked in peripheral locations, were vulnerable to being overlooked. This specific Boeing 737-200 had fallen out of “institutional memory” as staff retired and management teams rotated over the last 13 years.

“Though disposal of an old aircraft is not unusual, this one is, for it’s an aircraft that we didn’t even know we owned until recently! … Over time, it was lost from memory and only came to light when our friends at Kolkata Airport informed us of its presence… and asked us to remove it!”, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India.

Tracing the History of VT-EHH

To understand how a commercial airliner ends up abandoned in a corner of an international airport, we must look at the operational history of the airframe. The aircraft, identified by registration VT-EHH (Serial Number 22863), is approximately 43 years old, having been delivered factory-fresh to Indian Airlines in September 1982. For decades, it served as a workhorse for domestic connectivity. We can trace its journey through various leases, including a stint with Alliance Air between 1998 and 2007, before it returned to the parent fleet.

The pivotal moment in the aircraft’s history occurred in 2007, following the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India. The airframe was converted into a freighter, a move intended to support a specific logistical ambition. We see that during the late 2000s, Air India collaborated with India Post to launch a dedicated freighter service aimed at speeding up mail delivery across the subcontinent. VT-EHH was one of the older passenger jets repurposed for this mission, tasked with hauling cargo rather than passengers.

Unfortunately, the India Post venture faced significant operational hurdles and financial disputes. By 2012, the dedicated freighter operations were largely wound down due to high operating costs and inefficiencies. Consequently, VT-EHH was grounded and parked at Kolkata Airport. Unlike other assets that might have been sold immediately or scrapped, this aircraft was simply left in place. Over the next decade, as the airline grappled with mounting debts and management changes, the silent freighter in Kolkata was slowly erased from the active consciousness of the company.

Systemic Oversights and Industry Context

While this incident is unusual, we must recognize that it is not entirely unique in the broader context of aviation and corporate restructuring. Large legacy carriers often struggle with asset tracking during turbulent periods. For instance, we can recall reports of American Airlines “forgetting” it held certain landing slots at JFK Airport, which led to regulatory disputes. However, the phenomenon of “ghost aviation” is typically associated with abandoned airports, such as Ellinikon in Athens or Nicosia in Cyprus, where derelict planes sit for decades. It is rare for an operating airline to lose track of a plane at an active major international airport.

The oversight regarding VT-EHH also draws a contrast with its “sister” ship, VT-EGG. This was another Boeing 737-200 freighter from the same batch, also parked in Kolkata. However, records show that VT-EGG was sold earlier and transported to Jaipur, Rajasthan, where it found a second life as a flight-themed restaurant. The divergent fates of these two identical aircraft highlight the inconsistency in asset disposal processes during the state-run era. One was monetized and repurposed; the other was left to rot and eventually vanish from the ledgers.

We believe this incident highlights the immense challenge the Tata Group faced in auditing the airline post-acquisition. The omission of the aircraft from insurance and depreciation records suggests a deep-seated breakdown in administrative protocol. Recovering value from this scrap metal, however minimal, is less about the revenue generated and more about closing a chapter of negligence. It signifies the end of the “paper-based” era and the firm establishment of digital, accountable management practices.

Concluding Section

The sale of the “forgotten” Boeing 737-200 is a narrative that perfectly encapsulates the transition of Air India. It is a story that begins with bureaucratic inertia and ends with proactive corporate governance. We see the resolution of this issue not just as the removal of an eyesore from Kolkata Airport, but as a metaphorical “clearing of the decks” by the airline’s new owners. It demonstrates a commitment to finding and fixing the errors of the past, no matter how obscure they may be.

Looking ahead, we expect fewer such surprises as the airline completes its modernization programs. The rigorous auditing and digitization of assets currently underway ensure that every engine, airframe, and spare part is accounted for. While the legend of the lost plane will likely remain a curious anecdote in aviation circles, it stands as a testament to the necessity of the rigorous overhaul that the national carrier is currently undergoing.

FAQ

Question: What type of aircraft was forgotten by Air India?
Answer: The aircraft was a Commercial-Aircraft Boeing 737-200, originally a passenger jet that had been converted into a freighter. It bore the registration VT-EHH.

Question: How long was the aircraft missing?
Answer: The aircraft had been parked and effectively forgotten for approximately 13 years, having been grounded in 2012 after a failed logistics deal with India Post.

Question: How was the aircraft discovered?
Answer: It was rediscovered when officials at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport contacted Air India to request the removal of the idle plane from a remote parking bay.

Sources

Financial Express