Search under way after Boeing 737 cargo plane goes missing off Pakistan coast
✓A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane with five crew members on board lost contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night after reporting a navigational system problem on its way to Karachi, Pakistan aviation authorities said.
Early flight data indicated the 27-year-old converted freighter operated by K2 Airways from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates possibly crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi after a series of sharp altitude changes, before a steep final descent, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Authorities have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation at sea through various agencies to locate the missing plane, Pakistan Airports Authority said.
K2 Airways said it was cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies.
“We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues,” the aircraft operator said on Facebook. Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The plane reported a navigational system issue at 9.18pm Pakistan Standard Time (16.18 GMT) while flying toward Karachi, the airports authority said.
Local air traffic control tried to guide the aircraft, but three minutes later radar systems showed the plane descending rapidly, and communication was lost, the authority said. The flight was about 287km west of Karachi at the time, according to the statement.
Flightradar24 tracking data showed the plane plunged about 5,000 feet in less than a minute, surged back 6,000 feet in just 30 seconds, before a dive from 36,550 feet. The last transmitted data point placed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level, with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute – about 400 kilometres per hour – an extremely steep and abnormal rate of descent.
“Anytime you see something extreme like that, it catches your eye, but it is too soon to say what any of it means without more information,” said Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety consultant.
The missing aircraft is part of Boeing’s decades-old 737 family but is two generations older than the 737 MAX version that was involved in a recent safety crisis.
It is K2 Airways’ only aircraft and entered into service with the carrier in 2024. Before the last flight, it had not flown since 28 June, according to Flightradar24 data.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
A Boeing 737 cargo plane registered in Pakistan and operated by K2 Airways went missing over the Arabian Sea on Tuesday night. The aircraft, carrying five crew members, was flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it reported a navigational system malfunction at 9:18pm Pakistan Standard Time. Local air traffic control attempted to assist, but three minutes later the plane descended rapidly and radar contact was lost at approximately 287 kilometres west of Karachi. Flight tracking data recorded unusual altitude changes in the final minutes, culminating in a descent rate of around 400 kilometres per hour from 36,550 feet, with the last signal placing the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level. Pakistan aviation authorities have initiated a search-and-rescue operation. The 27-year-old aircraft had not flown since late June and was K2 Airways' sole operational aircraft.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane with five crew members on board lost contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night after reporting a navigational system problem on its way to Karachi, Pakistan aviation authorities said.
Early flight data indicated the 27-year-old converted freighter operated by K2 Airways from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates possibly crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi after a series of sharp altitude changes, before a steep final descent, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Authorities have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation at sea through various agencies to locate the missing plane, Pakistan Airports Authority said.
K2 Airways said it was cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies.
“We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues,” the aircraft operator said on Facebook. Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The plane reported a navigational system issue at 9.18pm Pakistan Standard Time (16.18 GMT) while flying toward Karachi, the airports authority said.
Local air traffic control tried to guide the aircraft, but three minutes later radar systems showed the plane descending rapidly, and communication was lost, the authority said. The flight was about 287km west of Karachi at the time, according to the statement.
Flightradar24 tracking data showed the plane plunged about 5,000 feet in less than a minute, surged back 6,000 feet in just 30 seconds, before a dive from 36,550 feet. The last transmitted data point placed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level, with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute – about 400 kilometres per hour – an extremely steep and abnormal rate of descent.
“Anytime you see something extreme like that, it catches your eye, but it is too soon to say what any of it means without more information,” said Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety consultant.
The missing aircraft is part of Boeing’s decades-old 737 family but is two generations older than the 737 MAX version that was involved in a recent safety crisis.
It is K2 Airways’ only aircraft and entered into service with the carrier in 2024. Before the last flight, it had not flown since 28 June, according to Flightradar24 data.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways lost contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night while flying from Sharjah, UAE to Karachi, Pakistan The aircraft reported a navigational system problem at 9:18pm Pakistan Standard Time Three minutes after the navigational system report, radar systems showed the plane descending rapidly before communication was lost, approximately 287km west of Karachi Five crew members were on board Flight tracking data showed altitude changes including a final descent rate of approximately 400 kilometres per hour, with the last signal at 1,100 feet above sea level Early flight data indicated the aircraft possibly crashed into the sea Pakistan authorities launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation The aircraft is 27 years old and had not flown since 28 June It is K2 Airways' only aircraft The missing aircraft is two generations older than the Boeing 737 MAX
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
- A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways lost contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night while en route to Karachi from Sharjah, UAE
- The aircraft reported a navigational system problem at 9:18pm PST; three minutes later it descended rapidly and radar contact was lost, approximately 287km west of Karachi
- Flight tracking data shows extreme altitude fluctuations including a final descent of approximately 400 km/h, consistent with a possible crash into the Arabian Sea
- Five crew members were on board; Pakistan authorities have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation
- The aircraft is a 27-year-old converted freighter and K2 Airways' only aircraft; it had not flown since 28 June prior to this flight