App Crashes when app is put into background or notifications are opened after AR Scene is left

[jamessappy]

Environment

• Expo SDK: 52.0.47
• React Native: 0.76.9
• React: 18.3.1
• @reactvision/react-viro: 2.43.3
• Platform: iOS (physical device)
• Build type: Custom Expo Dev Client && Release Build

Description

When navigating away from a screen with a ViroARSceneNavigator, the app crashes on iOS.
Xcode shows:

-[VROViewAR applicationWillResignActive:]: unrecognized selector sent to deallocated instance

Looks like the AR view is deallocated before the lifecycle observer is removed.

Steps to Reproduce

Open a screen with ViroARSceneNavigator

Let AR start

Navigate away (navigation.replace or goBack)

Swipe down from top of screen to bring up notifications or attempt to slide the app into background.

App crashes with the log above

Notes

Tried manual cleanup with:

arNavRef.current?.pause?.();
arNavRef.current?.exitViro?.();
arNavRef.current?.unloadScene?.();

Still crashes

✅ Happens every time when leaving an AR scene.