Jet Airways' 18 aircraft engines held back in Singapore over unpaid dues

Delays in fundraising and action by lessors could lead to more disruption

As many as 18 CFM56 engines belonging to Jet Airways have been held back by a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit in Singapore over unpaid dues.

The engines power Boeing 737 aircraft and are stuck at ST Engineering’s MRO for months. The latter is demanding $125-150 million (Rs 880-1,060 crore) in dues be cleared before these are released, industry sources said.

With mounting losses, Jet has defaulted on lease and vendor payments. Its lessors are contemplating repossessing the planes they had lent. The MRO development highlights the airline’s serious cash shortage. This has led to the grounding of some