Lost and Found: Decommissioned Air India Boeing 737 Discovered at Kolkata Airport After 13 Years

A decommissioned Air India Boeing 737 that had vanished from the carrier’s online records was discovered parked in a remote bay at Kolkata Airport — 13 years after it was taken out of service.

How it was found

The jet only came to light after Kolkata Airport issued a formal request asking that an abandoned aircraft be removed from its premises. Airport staff identified the plane on site, prompting Air India to verify ownership. The airline confirmed the aircraft had been decommissioned more than a decade earlier and arranged for its removal.

Dispute over fines

According to reporting by The Independent, Air India had been contesting fines tied to the aircraft because it did not appear in the airline’s online inventory. The discovery resolved the discrepancy that had led to the dispute.

Air India response

Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India: “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 in a (very) remote parking bay and asked us to remove it! After verifying that it was indeed ours, we’ve now done so—and in so doing removed another old cobweb from our closet.”

What happens next

Air India arranged to clear the aircraft from the airport after confirming its records. The incident highlights gaps that can appear in long-term asset tracking and record-keeping when equipment is decommissioned or transferred.

Reporting referenced: The Independent. Original coverage: NewsNation.