Authorities in Pakistan are engaged in a search operation for a cargo plane that lost contact while flying over the Arabian Sea. A Boeing 737 operated by K2 Airways was on a scheduled route from Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, when it descended rapidly and then vanished from radar screens.
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The incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, 7th July, at approximately 9:21 p.m. local time. The Pakistan Airports Authority reported that the aircraft had informed air traffic control of a navigation system malfunction shortly before it went off radar. At the time of the incident, the plane was around 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
The flight was carrying five crew members, and their disappearance has sparked widespread concern. In response, the Pakistan government has initiated a search and rescue operation led by the country’s Rescue Coordination Centre. This operation is being supported by various resources, including a Pakistani navy ship, a merchant vessel managed by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, and two aircraft from the navy, as confirmed by security services.
K2 Airways released a statement on the situation, naming the crew members on board as Mohammad Rizwan Idrees, Faisal Mehmood, Muhammad Toufique Khan, Arif Siddiqui, and Mohammad Hamid. The airline conveyed its commitment to cooperate fully with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant government bodies in the investigation. They also expressed their hopes for the safety of the individuals involved.
Data from Flightradar24 indicated concerning altitude variations before the plane lost contact. The aircraft reportedly dropped approximately 5,000 feet in less than a minute, followed by a climb of around 6,000 feet within the subsequent 30 seconds. Ultimately, it descended almost straight down from an altitude of over 36,000 feet, with its last known position recorded at approximately 1,100 feet and descending at a staggering rate of 22,400 feet per minute.
On 8th July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his “deep grief” and offered “heartfelt sympathy” to the families of the crew members who are currently unaccounted for. His sentiments reflect the national concern surrounding the fate of the individuals aboard the aircraft, as families await news of their loved ones.
Should the incident result in confirmed fatalities, it would mark the first fatal aircraft accident in Pakistan since 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines jet crashed during its landing approach to Karachi, tragically resulting in 97 deaths, according to reports from the BBC.
As the search operation continues, both K2 Airways and the Pakistan Airports Authority have yet to provide further updates on the situation. The aviation community is closely monitoring developments, as the loss of contact raises numerous questions regarding the safety and reliability of aviation practices in the region.
As investigations unfold, the focus remains on locating the missing aircraft and establishing the sequence of events that led to this alarming incident. The investigation will likely include the examination of flight data and cockpit voice recorders, if recovered, to gain a deeper understanding of what transpired prior to the plane’s disappearance over the Arabian Sea.