New Delhi: Air India bid farewell to one of its last remaining Boeing 747-400 aircraft Monday, ‘VT-EVA ‘Agra’, marking the end of an era for the airline. Fondly nicknamed the “Queen of the Skies”, the iconic plane departed Mumbai for the United States on its final voyage, performing a “wing wave” manoeuvre as it took off. In this traditional salute for retiring aircraft, the pilots briefly dip the plane from one side to another.
This emotional final voyage of the plane was reportedly one of the most tracked on Flightradar24, a website that displays real-time aircraft positions. The retirement of the 747 is part of Air India’s efforts to modernise its fleet.
The last four 747s, last used commercially in 2021, were sold to AerSale, a US-based firm that, according to its website, specialises in the sale, lease, and exchange of used aircraft, engines, and other components. Aircraft specialists Nomadic Aviation Group teamed up with Air India’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) team to prepare the plane for its last trip to Plainfield in the US, including engine checks and regulatory compliances.
Two of the four planes will be given a new lease on life as cargo aircraft. The older remaining two— including ‘Agra’—are slated to be mined for parts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officially deregistered all four of Air India’s remaining 747s in November 2022, following the acquisition of the airline by the Tata Group earlier that year. Because of the deregistration, the plane did not bear the Air India logo at the time of its departure
The “Queen of the Skies” served Air India for decades, transporting passengers on commercial flights, ferrying dignitaries, and even assisting in evacuations during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Steve Giordano, managing partner of Nomadic Aviation Group, provided an update on the plane’s future on X.
“Everyone asking what’s next for the #B747 #AirIndia planes – we usually don’t know this info. Sometimes it’s obvious, but it’s not our business to know or ask. That said: the scuttlebutt on socials seems to be 2 will fly as freighters, 2 will become parts and beer cans. All we know is that they are all going to Roswell NM (KROW) for now!”
Everyone asking what’s next for the #B747 #AirIndia planes – we usually don’t know this info. Sometimes it’s obvious, but it’s not our business to know or ask. That said: the scuttlebutt on socials seems to be 2 will fly as freighters, 2 will become parts and beer cans. pic.twitter.com/Wr8PuFKGYC
— Steve Giordano (@JTTsteve) April 22, 2024
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A nostalgic goodbye
Air India shared a heartfelt message on the social media platform X, along with a video capturing the plane’s departure from Mumbai.
“Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last ‘Queen of the Skies’, the B747, departing Mumbai. Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We’ll miss your iconic presence,” it said.
Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last 'Queen of the Skies', the B747, departing Mumbai.
Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We’ll miss your iconic presence.
Credits – @CSMIA_Official#AirIndia #b747 #QueenOfTheSkies pic.twitter.com/W3M15eo5Nx
— Air India (@airindia) April 22, 2024
‘Agra’ had been part of Air India’s fleet since 1996. It was configured with 423 seats, consisting of 12 in First Class, 26 in Business, and 385 in Economy.
As it departed from Mumbai at 10:45 am Monday, complete with the wing wave, some X users tipped their hats in farewell too.
“Lots of childhood memories with this one! … perfect wing wave to end an era,” said one such comment.
Lots of childhood memories with this one! … perfect wing wave to end an era 🥹 #AirIndiaB747 https://t.co/eiepIsCwre
— Karan Kantharia (@KaranKK_11) April 22, 2024
Air India’s chief technical officer, Sisira Kanta Dash, also shared photos of the team, including one from inside the jumbo jet. “The queen VT-EVA, Boeing 747-400, new Reg N940AS leaving BOM-PAE. Lot of efforts many meetings. Many people working behind the scene to make this happen,” he wrote.
The queen VT-EVA , Boeing 747-400, new Reg N940AS leaving BOM-PAE.
Lot of efforts many meetings. Many people working behind the scene to make this happen .Thank you all. pic.twitter.com/hXngAw2bDF
— Sisira Kanta Dash (@SisiraKantDash) April 22, 2024
The farewell prompted an outpouring of emotions online, with many sharing their personal experiences. User @AbhijitChavda recalled it as the first 747 he flew on as a child, writing, “End of an era. Sad to see her go.”
The first 747 I flew on, as a kid.
End of an era. Sad to see her go. https://t.co/GX1gVn1RCu
— Abhijit Chavda (@AbhijitChavda) April 22, 2024
One user praised the plane as the “most beautiful engineering marvel of all time”, while another wrote that it “revolutionised Indian aviation”.
RIP the B747, The Most beautiful engineering marvel of all time and the reason for my pilot dream (which obv won't happen). Enjoy the A380s while it's there, just 10 more years. https://t.co/AIPRJ0Sn7A
— A (@PerthClassic) April 22, 2024
The Queen of the Skies revolutionised Indian aviation, made it world-class.
Above all, it gave a level of hospitality that was entirely unparalleled in its days.
Long live the 747 (or atleast the -8 variant)! https://t.co/4I9upsIfPt
— ₹200 திமுக உபி (கேலி) – மோடியின் குடும்பம் (@HktalksC32497) April 22, 2024
Others expressed their regret at never flying on the impressive jumbo jet. User @abdaal wrote, “A regret I’ll live with forever…not being able to fly on one…” while another user, @jpoomath, shared, “How I wished to travel in one of these.
Former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor also shared his thoughts on X. “The 747s were the pinnacle of JRD’s Air India (though the airline was nationalized in the 1950s, JRD ran it till 1978). Wish one could have been retained in his honor as a museum. Alas it was not to be,” he wrote.
Sad to see the end of an era. The 747s were the pinnacle of JRD's Air India (though the airline was nationalized in the 1950s, JRD ran it till 1978). Wish one could have been retained in his honor as a museum. Alas it was not to be. https://t.co/1qaueoUvbI
— Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) April 22, 2024
Air India received its first Boeing 747 aircraft on March 22, 1971. The plane began its operations on May 21 of the same year, offering four weekly flights from India to London.
The retirement of the aircraft represents the airline’s move towards modernising its fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient planes.
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(Edited by Asavari Singh)
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