In a shocking revelation, Air India uncovers a forgotten Boeing 737, raising questions about the airline's past management. But how did a massive aircraft go unnoticed for over a decade?
Air India recently found a Boeing 737-200 at Kolkata Airport, which had been forgotten and left untouched for an astonishing 13 years. This discovery exposed a significant oversight spanning multiple administrative periods. The plane, with the registration VT-EHH, was initially delivered to Indian Airlines in 1982 and later operated by Alliance Air before Air India converted it into a freighter in 2007. But its story took an unexpected turn.
After being grounded at Kolkata Airport in 2012, the aircraft was neither sold nor scrapped. Instead, it was left unattended in a secluded area, eventually fading from the airline's asset records. This negligence resulted in its exclusion from critical documentation, including depreciation schedules, insurance records, maintenance plans, and financial registers.
Air India's CEO, Campbell Wilson, revealed that VT-EHH had been consistently omitted from internal records before privatization. This lapse led to its absence during the Tata Group's acquisition valuation. The airline's outdated asset management practices, common in state-run enterprises, contributed to this oversight.
And here's where it gets intriguing: VT-EHH wasn't the only aircraft forgotten. Another vintage plane, VT-EGG, shared a similar fate, stored alongside VT-EHH in Kolkata. VT-EGG later found a new purpose as an aircraft restaurant in Rajasthan, while VT-EHH remained at the airport.
This incident highlights the complexities of modernizing legacy airlines with historical documentation issues. Tata Group's efforts to revamp Air India include IT system upgrades, contract renegotiations, lease cleanups, and HR improvements, all aimed at meeting global aviation standards.
The sale of VT-EHH, following its rediscovery, emphasizes the importance of meticulous record-keeping in aviation. However, the buyer and sale price remain a mystery, leaving room for speculation.
This story begs the question: How many more hidden assets or oversights might be lurking in the shadows of Air India's past? Share your thoughts and join the discussion on our platforms.
