Bali has multiple abandoned Boeing 737s with mysterious origins
- While famed for its beaches and culture, numerous abandoned Boeing 737s are cropping up around Bali
- They’ve gradually become tourist attractions and even hotels
- But nobody knows how they got there
Published on Jun 19, 2024 at 10:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jun 20, 2024 at 12:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
While famed for its beaches and culture, numerous abandoned Boeing 737s are cropping up around Bali – and nobody knows how they got there.
One appeared out of nowhere, spending years in a quarry before becoming a luxury hotel.
In fact, they’ve all become tourist attractions – but how did they get there?
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The most famous of the abandoned Boeing 737s
The most photographed is perhaps the Boeing 737-200 that sat in a carved limestone quarry for years.
It was in a hidden spot along Jalan Nusa Dua Selatan, five minutes from Pandawa Beach.
According to ATDB.aero, the Boeing 737-200 was built in October 1982.
It entered service with Arkia Israeli Airlines in March 1983 before Dan-Air London took it on at the end of that year.
In March 1993, the 737-200 went to Mandala Airlines before it rebranded as Tigerair Mandala in 2011 and ceased operations three years later.
By this time, PK-RII had already stopped flying – but nobody knows why.
It then turned up several years later in the spot it is now, allegedly moved to the former quarry in March 2013 by an Australian owner hoping to turn it into a tourist attraction.
But how did it come unnoticed? If rumors are to be believed, the Bali 737 arrived in parts and was reassembled there before the owner ran out of cash or interest.
After nine years it was purchased by Russian developer, Felix Demin, in 2021.
It was then moved to Nyang Nyang Beach the following year.
It is now the famous luxurious Private Jet Villa overlooking the Indian Ocean.
More abandoned 737s in Bali
There are other Boeing 737s that have cropped up around the country.
There is a 737-300 at Kedonganan Beach that was built in 1996 and delivered to Virgin Express.
The aircraft is a former Sriwijaya Air jet, with registration PK-CKM.
It saw operations with easyJet Switzerland, Pace Airlines, Air China, and other operators.
It was involved in a runway accident in Yogyakarta, on the Indonesian island of Java, in 2011 and written off due to the ensuing damage.
It was then shipped to Bali by an Indonesian entrepreneur.
It’s thought he either wanted to turn it into a home or an plane-themed cinema and restaurant.
Meanwhile, there’s another abandoned Boeing 737-200 in a field in Jembrana in West Bali.
While locked up, tourists can climb on the wings and get close.
However, there are reportedly plans to develop the area and erect a library, restaurant, and café, with the aircraft as the main attraction.
Alternatively, it’s thought that it could be turned into a private villa.
Do aviation mysteries pique your interest? New sonar images are set to finally solve the Amelia Earhart plane mystery.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
