• Plane missing for 13 years found at airport
• The airline paid a fine of nearly $120,000

An Indian airline announced the discovery of a plane that had been missing for 13 years at Kolkata Airport, though it will face a substantial financial penalty due to the negligence.

The airline said the aircraft, a Boeing 737-200, had been missing from its records since 2012, until Kolkata Airport contacted the company in November to request the removal of the narrow-body plane from the airport.

Sources indicated that the airline was forced to pay a parking fine of about 10 million Indian rupees (approximately $123,000).

Company officials initially denied ownership of the aircraft, but an internal review confirmed that the 30-meter-long plane belonged to the airline.

CEO Campbell Wilson explained in an internal memo that the company was unaware of the plane’s ownership before the airport contacted them, adding that disposing of an old aircraft is common, though this case is exceptional.

Officials noted that the plane was lost from company records due to frequent staff changes and gaps in file management over the years.

The 43-year-old aircraft is now being transported to Bengaluru for use in training maintenance teams.

This action is part of the airport’s efforts to remove abandoned aircraft, having cleared 14 planes over the past five years.