A K2 Airways cargo plane carrying five crew members disappeared from radar over the Arabian Sea while flying from Sharjah to Karachi, with a large-scale search and rescue operation involving Pakistan’s military and civilian authorities underway. Here’s what you need to know;
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said the Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft reported a navigational system problem at 9:18pm (PST) on Tuesday while approaching Pakistani airspace. Air traffic controllers at the Karachi Area Control Centre immediately began assisting the flight.
However, just three minutes later, at 9:21pm, radar showed the aircraft rapidly descending and making a sharp change in heading before both radar and radio contact were lost approximately 287 kilometres (155 nautical miles) west of Karachi.
What happened to the aircraft?
According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, preliminary ADS-B data suggests the aircraft experienced dramatic altitude changes before contact was lost.
The tracking data indicates the plane first lost altitude, briefly climbed again, and then entered a steep final descent. The last recorded position placed the aircraft at just 1,100 feet above mean sea level with an exceptionally high descent rate of 22,400 feet per minute.
The flight-tracking service said the available data points to a possible crash, although the exact cause remains unknown.
Was there a technical problem?
Officials said the pilot had reported a navigation system issue before losing contact.
Flightradar24 also noted that the aircraft experienced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference shortly after departing Sharjah, similar to other aircraft operating in the region. Navigation data reportedly returned to normal after the aircraft left the affected area, but investigators have not linked the interference to the incident.
Aviation analyst Imran Aslam told ARY News that the aircraft’s sudden disappearance remains puzzling.
He said that even in the event of an engine failure, an aircraft would normally glide rather than descend abruptly, adding that the sequence of events raises several unanswered questions.
What search efforts are underway?
Following the loss of contact, authorities activated the Rescue Coordination Centre and launched a coordinated search and rescue operation in the Arabian Sea.
The Pakistan Navy deployed frigate PNS Zulfiqar, while the Pakistan Air Force dispatched surveillance aircraft to assist in the search. A Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft and a Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessel were also sent to the area where the aircraft disappeared.
What do we know about the aircraft?
The missing aircraft, registered as AP-BOI, is a Boeing 737-400 converted freighter operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways.
According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was originally delivered to Russia’s Aeroflot as a passenger jet in 1999 before joining Garuda Indonesia in 2004. It was converted into a cargo aircraft in 2012 and later operated by TNT Airways and ASL Airlines before entering service with K2 Airways in 2024.
The aircraft is the airline’s only operational cargo plane.
What is K2 Airways?
K2 Airways is a private cargo airline headquartered in Karachi. The company was established in May 2018 after receiving its airline charter licence from the government.
The airline said it is cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies during the ongoing search operation.
What happens next?
Authorities have confirmed that all five people on board were crew members.
The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation will conduct a detailed investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to disappear. Officials have said the cause of the incident will only be established after the completion of the investigation.
Search and rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue efforts to locate the missing aircraft and its crew.
Read more: K2 Airways cargo plane from Sharjah to Karachi goes missing, says PAA
