deventhakkar

Ok I get. So IA was planning to retire their aging A300s in the early 2000s soon after the hijack. It would cause metal fatigue cracks and corrosion damage to the fuselage of the plane so repairing VT-EDW and having it fly for another number of years would not have much of a difference anyway.

deventhakkar

So when and where was this Indian bird withdrawn from use (stored) and presumably scrapped?

oliver2002

The hijack itself probably didn't do much damage, the wear and tear of regular flying in 1976-99 probably put the maximum number of cycles on the aircraft that are commercially viable. At one point retrofitting an aircraft with so called 'cycle kits' is too expensive and the aircraft is stored/scrapped.

The aircraft sale/purchase procedures of IC/AI and NACIL are public knowledge, and should be available if you dig a bit with NACIL. I'm sure they can tell you what eventually happened to the aircraft.

deventhakkar

Ok. Are you all sure this plane was worn down too much from 23 years of flying? Was it really too old to return to service with Indian airlines? So why did it remain in temporary service for a few more years with IA after the hijacking?

deventhakkar

And does anyone know the location?

oliver2002

Aircraft that have a few cycles left usually remain on standby within the fleet, but don't perform regular duties. They are used when other aircraft are undergoing maintenance or for one off charter flights etc. Similar to the AI 747 right now.

deventhakkar

SO, where is the hijacked Airbus A300, VT-EDW now? Still in India somewhere at Mumbai? Or has it been ferried to Kemble, England for scrapping?

justavisitor

I too was searching on the fate of VT-EDW and happened to read the forum and this thread. At the same time another article in "The Hindu" which I am reproducing here. According to this report (November 2002), the aircraft was impounded as case property on February 5, 2000, and stationed at the airliner's Airbus 300 hangar at Mumbai, meaning it never flew or was never in active service. No need to think much now, it was scrapped years back - probably in 2003..

Read the article fully.. They prepared a 10 feet model of the aircraft as per the order of a High Court in India before selling it off!!

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/17/s...1703760800.htm

NEW DELHI NOV. 16. Nearly three years after it was hijacked to Kandahar while on its way to the Capital, Airbus 300 VT-EDW of Indian Airlines has now been "junked". Except for some functional parts and spares, the aircraft would be sold as scrap.

While the decision to phase out this ageing plane was taken on December 20, 1999 — four days before it took off from Kathmandu — being discarded to the junkyard was not part of the original script.

After returning from Kandahar, the plane was impounded as case property on February 5, 2000, and stationed at the airliner's Airbus 300 hangar at Mumbai. While the case went on, the airliner floated a global tender for the plane's sale on March 22, 2000. No bids were received and the tender was repeated two months later.

On May 30, 2000, the Florida-based Aviation System International Inc. (ASI Inc.) sent a bid of $23,75,000. The offer was accepted within a week and the Ministry of Civil Aviation granted approval on September 25, 2000. Subsequently, an earnest amount of $1,18,000 was deposited.

Indian Airlines then approached a Patiala court seeking permission for sale. The court, however, turned down the plea. Following this, the airliner moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court which while allowing the sale, ordered prior preparation of a 10 feet model of the aircraft.

Also, Indian Airlines was asked to facilitate detailed photography and videography of the plane.

Once this was done, VT- EDW was all set to make the journey to Florida in February 2001.

Fate, however, again threw a spanner in the works. ASI Inc. first expressed inability to take delivery of the plane on technical grounds and then declined to pick it up due to "non-availability of maintenance slot".

Frustrated by the continuous wrangling, Indian Airlines decided to "cannibalise" the plane in December 2001. This involved removal of all functional parts and spares.

The airliner has now decided to hand over the remains to the Metal Scrap and Trading Corporation of India for further sale. "We might get good money from the scrap. Aircraft metal does fetch a good price in the junk market," an official summed up.

Gulfstream650ER

This airframe is located on the outskirts of Delhi Airport at a place called Aeromagik,set up by a local businessman it is used as an aid for the poor and less fortunate to experience the adventure of going on an aeroplane,it was shoe horned into a building and remains there in 2 pieces joined together by metal strips,it is pretty tired for such an old aircraft but at least its been put to good use.Interior is complete,but not in any real colourscheme,it is there with an ex Air Sahara CRJ100