Wreckage of Missing Cargo Plane Found Off Pakistan Coast as Search Continues for Crew

Reuters | CNN

The wreckage of a Boeing 737 cargo aircraft that disappeared off Pakistan’s southern coast has been located following an extensive overnight search, authorities confirmed on Wednesday, as rescue teams continue efforts to locate the five crew members who were on board.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the wreckage of the K2 Airways cargo aircraft was found approximately 53 nautical miles (98 kilometres) south of Ormara Port in the Arabian Sea.

The Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency deployed multiple air and sea assets in a coordinated search and rescue operation after the aircraft lost contact while en route to Karachi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed emergency authorities to accelerate the search for the 27 year old converted freighter, which reportedly experienced a navigational system malfunction before disappearing from radar. The aircraft was carrying a crew of five, comprising two pilots, two engineers and one support staff member.

While authorities have not officially confirmed the fate of the crew, Prime Minister Sharif extended his heartfelt condolences to their families, raising fears that the crash may have claimed all lives on board.

Aircraft Reported Navigation Problem Before Disappearing

The Pakistan Airports Authority said the aircraft reported a navigational system issue at 9:18 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time (1618 GMT) while flying toward Karachi.

Air traffic controllers attempted to guide the crew after the distress report, but communication was lost approximately three minutes later as radar data showed the aircraft descending rapidly.

At the time contact was lost, the aircraft was approximately 155 nautical miles (287 kilometres) west of Karachi.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24, cited by both Reuters and CNN, indicates the aircraft’s final moments were highly erratic. The Boeing 737 reportedly dropped around 5,000 feet in less than a minute, climbed approximately 6,000 feet within 30 seconds, and then entered a catastrophic descent from an altitude of 36,550 feet.

The final transmitted position showed the aircraft at just 1,100 feet above sea level, descending at approximately 22,400 feet per minute, an exceptionally steep and abnormal rate that suggests a severe in flight emergency.

Investigation Underway

K2 Airways said it is fully cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies investigating the incident. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing had not issued a public statement at the time of reporting.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 400, a decades old model that predates the newer 737 MAX series. It is powered by engines manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was originally delivered as a passenger jet to Russia’s Aeroflot in 1999 before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2012. It entered service with K2 Airways in 2024 and is currently the airline’s only aircraft. Flight records indicate its previous operation took place on June 28.

If confirmed, the crash would mark Pakistan’s first fatal aviation accident since May 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed during its approach to Karachi, killing 97 people.

Sources: Reuters, CNN