Pakistan Cargo Plane with 5 Crew Missing After Rapid Descent Off Karachi Coast
A cargo aircraft operated by Pakistan's K2 Airways has gone missing over the Arabian Sea with five crew members on board, Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 was en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it reported a navigation system problem late Tuesday evening.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control at approximately 9:21 p.m. local time, after rapidly descending and making a sharp change in heading. Radar and radio contact were lost about 155 nautical miles (287 kilometers) west of Karachi, the southern port city.
The authority stated on social media platform X that search-and-rescue operations are currently underway in the Arabian Sea. The cause of the disappearance remains unknown, and no debris or wreckage has been reported yet.
The missing aircraft is a Boeing 737, a widely used twin-engine jet. K2 Airways, a cargo airline based in Pakistan, operates freight services primarily within the Middle East and South Asia. The flight from Sharjah, a major commercial hub, was a routine cargo run.
Pakistani aviation authorities have alerted maritime and naval agencies to assist in the search. The incident adds to a history of aviation challenges in the region, but officials have urged caution against speculation until more information emerges.
Families of the crew members have been notified. The identities of the five individuals on board have not yet been released. The Civil Aviation Authority has promised to provide updates as the search progresses.
