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For more than a decade, a Boeing cargo plane sat quietly at an airport—out of service, out of sight, and apparently out of mind. Then, almost by accident, it resurfaced, sparking questions about how something as massive as an aircraft could simply vanish from official records.
Parked, Then Forgotten
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-200 cargo plane, was parked at Kolkata airport in 2012 after being decommissioned. Over time, it slipped out of Air India’s internal records, even as it physically remained in a remote parking bay at the airport.
Thirteen Years in Plain Sight
While the plane disappeared on paper, airport authorities never forgot it was there. Kolkata airport continued to rack up parking fees and issue invoices, even as Air India disputed them, claiming it had no record of owning the aircraft.
A Registration Number Tells the Story
The aircraft, registered as VT-EHH, only re-entered the airline’s awareness when the airport formally requested its removal. That request triggered a deeper review, revealing the jet had effectively been lost through years of restructurings and administrative gaps.
An Internal Admission
Air India’s chief executive, Campbell Wilson, acknowledged the oversight in an internal message that later became public. He described the situation as unusual, noting it was an aircraft the company “didn’t even know we owned” until the airport flagged it.
How Records Fell Through the Cracks
The plane’s history made it easier to forget. Originally part of Indian Airlines, it was absorbed into Air India after a 2007 merger, converted for freight, leased to India Post, and later withdrawn from service—steps that complicated its paper trail over time.
Why Losing a Plane Is So Rare
Aviation experts say airlines typically track aircraft closely because grounded planes cost money rather than generate it. Maintenance histories, serial numbers, and regulatory oversight usually make it nearly impossible for an aircraft to disappear entirely.
The Bill Comes Due
By the time the plane was rediscovered, Kolkata airport had accumulated nearly ₹10 million (about £83,000) in parking fees. Air India ultimately agreed to pay, closing a chapter that had quietly grown expensive over the years.
A Final Journey—By Road
The aircraft was removed in November and transported by road to Bengaluru. Rather than returning to flight, it will be repurposed for ground-based engineering training, giving it a final role after years of unintended limbo.
An Unlikely Aviation Mystery
In an industry built on precision and checklists, the case stands out. The missing Boeing wasn’t hidden in a jungle or sunk at sea—it was sitting exactly where it had been left, reminding the aviation world that even highly regulated systems can sometimes lose track of what’s right in front of them.