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Air India's Majestic Boeing 747, nicknamed 'Agra' arriving in all her glory! Originally delivered to Air India in October 1996, this aircraft has played a significant role in the airline's operations, including occasional VVIP Government and Evacuation flights alongside its regular commercial duties. Air India has operated a total of 14 Boeing 747s to date, but by 2020, only four airframes (VT-EVA, VT-EVB, VT-ESO, and VT-ESP) remained airworthy. The Covid-19 pandemic led to the sudden grounding of all four aircraft in March 2020. While VT-EVA and VT-ESO resumed service after the initial wave, the other two did not. VT-EVA flew the last Boeing 747 passenger flight for Air India on March 11, 2021, and was subsequently stored at Mumbai Airport. In April 2024, AerSale Inc, an American firm, acquired these Boeing 747s, with VT-EVA being the first to depart India. After spending over three years in storage, the aircraft took to the skies again on April 22, 2024, when she flew to Roswell (ROW), New Mexico, via Paine Field (PAE), her birthplace. The fate of the aircraft remains uncertain, with possibilities ranging from conversion to a freighter to being broken down for parts. Here's hoping it's the former. She is seen here during her better days, arriving from Hyderabad (HYD), on final Runway 14. Check out the video of her last takeoff from Mumbai Airport in 4K - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exEpGgSHe-Y |
