Sharjah: A search and rescue operation is underway after a cargo aircraft carrying five crew members disappeared off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan, while flying from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
According to Pakistan’s aviation authorities, the Boeing 737 lost contact with air traffic controllers at approximately 9:21 pm local time (16:21 GMT), as it approached Karachi. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a rapid descent shortly before communication was lost.
Officials said the crew had reported a navigation system malfunction just minutes before the aircraft disappeared from radar. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation. The aircraft was operated by K2 Airways, a private cargo airline headquartered in Karachi. In an official statement released, the airline confirmed that five crew members were on board and said it is fully cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies involved in the investigation and search efforts.
The airline remarked that, “We continue to pray earnestly for the safety of our colleagues.” Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed significant fluctuations in the aircraft’s altitude before it entered a steep descent, raising concerns about a possible in-flight emergency.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has deployed multiple agencies, including the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force, to conduct an extensive search operation in the waters off Karachi. Rescue teams continue to search for the missing aircraft and its crew.
The incident marks one of Pakistan’s most serious aviation emergencies in recent years. The country’s last major aviation disaster occurred in May 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines passenger aircraft crashed during its approach to Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, claiming 97 lives while two passengers survived. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the missing cargo flight, and further updates are expected as search operations continue.
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