K2 Airways cargo plane goes missing over Arabian Sea, search underway

A K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo aircraft carrying five crew members disappeared over the Arabian Sea on Tuesday night after reporting a navigation malfunction while en route from Sharjah to Karachi, triggering a multi-agency search and rescue operation.

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed that the privately operated cargo aircraft lost contact with air traffic control after reporting problems with its navigation system. The Karachi Area Control Centre (ACC) provided navigational assistance, but the aircraft soon began rapidly losing altitude while changing course before disappearing from radar.

According to the PAA, the aircraft lost radar and radio contact simultaneously when it was approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was immediately activated, and a maritime search and rescue operation was launched.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft, operating as Flight TA1732 from Sharjah to Karachi, was cruising at 35,000 feet and a speed of about 790 kilometres per hour at 9:17pm Pakistan time when the emergency began.

The aircraft reportedly made an unexpected U-turn before descending nearly 34,000 feet within five minutes. It was last tracked at an altitude of about 1,100 feet and a speed of around 211 kilometres per hour before disappearing from radar.

Aviation authorities said the aircraft was flying on airway G216, around 150 miles south of Karachi, when the crew reported navigation problems and requested a heading from air traffic control. Controllers instructed the crew to maintain its existing heading.

However, controllers observed the aircraft turning to the right while rapidly losing altitude. Repeated attempts to contact the crew went unanswered.

According to official sources, the Pakistan Navy dispatched PNS Zulfiquar to the area where the aircraft is believed to have disappeared. The Pakistan Air Force also deployed a Saab surveillance aircraft to conduct aerial reconnaissance over the Arabian Sea.

The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation's merchant vessel Lahore has also been sent to assist in the search operation.

Separately, Navy rescue teams launched a large-scale maritime search, while an ATR aircraft departed from Turbat to support the operation. Other relevant agencies have also been mobilised.

Sources said the aircraft had flown to Sharjah for repairs on June 28 before operating the return cargo flight to Karachi.