Search Underway for Missing Aircraft
Authorities in Pakistan have initiated a comprehensive search operation for a Boeing cargo aircraft that vanished over the Arabian Sea. The Karachi-bound plane, carrying five crew members, lost contact with air traffic control after departing from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, with the last communication indicating a navigational system fault.
The aircraft, a 737-400 operated by the Pakistani carrier K2 Airways, was en route to Karachi when it disappeared from radar. The Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed that contact was lost around 9:18 pm (16:18 GMT) following the reported technical issue.
Flight Path and Last Known Data
Detailed flight tracking data from Flightradar24, a global flight-monitoring service, provides a critical timeline of the aircraft's final moments. Minutes after reporting the navigational system problem, the plane experienced a significant and rapid loss of altitude, dropping approximately 1,525 meters (5,000 feet) in under a minute. This was followed by an unusual climb of about 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) over the next 30 seconds.
Subsequently, the aircraft began a steep, almost vertical descent from an altitude of 11,140 meters (36,550 feet). Its last recorded position placed it at 335 meters (1,100 feet), descending at an alarming rate of 22,400 feet per minute, which translates to approximately 400 kilometers per hour. All communication and tracking ceased when the plane was approximately 155 nautical miles (287 km or 178 miles) west of Karachi.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In response to the disappearance, a multi-agency search and rescue effort has been launched. Security sources have confirmed the involvement of a Pakistani navy ship, a merchant vessel operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, and two naval aircraft. Despite these extensive efforts, as of now, no wreckage or survivors have been located.
K2 Airways, the Karachi-based private cargo airline operating the flight, issued a statement expressing their deep concern. The airline stated, "We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues," and affirmed its full cooperation with all relevant authorities involved in the search.
The Aircraft and Its History
The missing Boeing 737-400, a 27-year-old aircraft, was the sole plane in K2 Airways' fleet. Its operational history includes service with multiple carriers before its current deployment. Originally delivered to Russia's Aeroflot as a passenger aircraft in 1999, it later flew for Garuda Indonesia. In 2012, it underwent conversion into a freighter for Belgium's TNT Airways.
Aircraft tracking records indicate that the plane was withdrawn from service in June 2023 and subsequently stored in France for approximately ten months. Irish company AerCap reactivated the aircraft in April 2024, after which it was placed back into storage, initially in Jakarta and then in Karachi. It remained in Karachi for nearly six months before commencing service with K2 Airways in December 2024.
Previous Air Disasters and Official Response
Should the incident be confirmed as a crash, it would mark a significant civilian air disaster for Pakistan since May 2020. At that time, a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near the runway in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of 97 out of 99 individuals on board.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly addressed the incident, conveying his profound grief and offering his condolences and sympathies to the families of the missing crew members during this challenging time.
Source: Original Article
