The Air India Boeing 747, once hailed as the “Queen of the Skies,” bid farewell to Mumbai’s international airport on Monday, marking the end of an illustrious era. This aircraft, which had served dignitaries including Presidents, Prime Ministers, and VVIPs, undertook its final journey from its Mumbai base.
Known for its role in long-haul international flights, the Boeing 747 is now headed to Plainfield, USA, where it will be disassembled for parts. This departure signifies the end of a chapter, as Air India received its first Boeing 747 on March 22, 1971. Pilots honored the aircraft’s legacy with a “Wing Wave” tradition as it departed from India. With airlines globally opting for more advanced and efficient jets, the era of the Boeing 747 is drawing to a close.
According to reports, US-based AerSale has acquired the four Boeing 747-400 airplanes. The aircraft, parked at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport since their last flight in 2021, are being prepared for transport to their new owners by the Nomadic Aviation Group.