Bali is known for its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes, crystal clear waters and lush terraced rice fields.
But it’s also gaining attention for something rather unlikely.
For years, tourists have been flocking to Raya Nusa Dua Selatan highway where an abandoned Boeing 737 is parked in the middle of a field not far from the Pandawa beach.
Travellers have shared footage of the mysterious plane to TikTok, intrigued by its history – however, no one really knows how it got there.
Who owns it?
Sources state it was owned by an Australian with the plane transported to the field in parts and remounted on site in the hopes it would be transformed into a restaurant.
There are claims the owner ran out of money and left the plane behind in the limestone quarry.
Tourists can only view the abandoned 737 from a distance as onsite security keeps people away from the plane.
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Many climb onto shipping containers which border the property to get a better view of the plane.
In a clip that has amassed 10 million views, a travel blogger and YouTuber called Josh can be seen trying to bribe his way through to see the plane – but he is quickly rejected by the guards around it.
“I have no idea how they got this plane to just sit here, but it’s here,” Josh says, and then tries to get access but is denied.
“I have never drove [sic] this far not to get inside something.”
Instead, he was able to get footage by using a drone.
When was it built?
The Boeing 737-200 was built in October 1982 before entering service with Arkia Israeli Airlines and then Dan-Air London that same year, according to data from ATDB.aero.
Then in 1992, British Airways acquired Dan-Air, absorbing it into its Gatwick operations.
In March 1993, the 737-200 went to Indonesian low-cost carrier Mandala Airlines as PK-RII – which was based in Jakarta.
It rebranded itself as Tigerair Mandala in 2011 and in 2014, it ceased operations after its shareholders stopped providing the airline with funding, according to Simple Flying.
By this time, PK-RII had already departed and it’s unclear when the aircraft ceased flying for Mandala Airlines.
According to ATDB it was November 2007, but ch-aviation.com lists it as February 2008.
Despite this, it wasn’t until several years later that it ended up where it is now, near the tourist hub of Pandawa beach.
Another abandoned plane in Bali
The Boeing 737-200 isn’t the only aircraft abandoned on the island, with another disused plane spotted 6km from Kuta Beach.
The aircraft sits right next to a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts store in Kedonganan, with its wing resting on the diner’s wall.
Some guessed that jet, which has no engines, was another abandoned restaurant idea or had planned to be used as a home.
Unlike the other Boeing 737, tourists are allowed to climb on-board (via a ladder) to take
photos – something Josh was very excited about.
“You wouldn’t believe this but on the side of a Dunkin’ Donuts lies an abandoned 737. It’s on a busy street too; it’s legit. You wont find this anywhere else. It’s awesome.
Josh then shares footage of what is inside the aircraft advising it is dangerous and that no one should try it.
“So we have some boxes in here, some blankets not exactly sure what any of this is.”
More Coverage
The aircraft is a former Sriwijaya Air jet (registration PK-CKM) that was involved in a runway excursion accident in Yogyakarta and was written off as damaged beyond repair, according to Simple Flying.
Some guessed that jet, which has no engines, was another abandoned restaurant idea or had plans to be used as a home.
A Bli blog reported the long-term plan was to turn it into a restaurant and flight simulator but the owner, who reportedly has a 10-year lease on the land, needs an investment partner before he can start renovating it.
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