Pakistan Navy, Air Force and maritime agencies expand search after cargo aircraft with five crew disappears en route from Sharjah to Karachi.
KARACHI: A large-scale search and rescue operation is under way after a Pakistani cargo aircraft carrying five crew members disappeared over the Arabian Sea while approaching Karachi, prompting the deployment of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) assets alongside civilian maritime agencies.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the Boeing 737 cargo aircraft, operated by K2 Airways as Flight KTA1732, lost contact with air traffic control after reporting a navigation system malfunction while flying from Sharjah to Karachi. Radar and radio contact were lost approximately 155 nautical miles (287 kilometres) west of Karachi.
Search operation expanded
Authorities have significantly intensified the search effort in the area where the aircraft was last detected.
According to official sources:
• The Pakistan Navy has deployed the warship PNS Zulfiqar to the search area.
• PNS Hunain has also joined the rescue mission.
• A Pakistan Air Force Saab surveillance aircraft is conducting aerial reconnaissance.
• A Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft has departed from Turbat to assist in the operation.
• Commercial vessels operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) are participating in the search across the Arabian Sea.
Despite the extensive air and sea operation, authorities have yet to locate any wreckage or establish contact with the five crew members.
Aircraft made rapid descent
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was cruising normally at an altitude of around 35,000 feet and travelling at approximately 790 kilometres per hour shortly before the incident.
The aircraft subsequently made an abrupt change in heading before entering a rapid descent. Within minutes, it reportedly lost around 34,000 feet of altitude, descending to approximately 1,100 feet while slowing to about 211 kilometres per hour before disappearing from radar.
No Mayday distress call
The PAA said the flight crew informed Karachi Area Control Centre of a navigation system malfunction at around 9:18pm, after which air traffic controllers immediately provided navigational assistance. However, radar showed the aircraft descending rapidly and changing course just minutes later before all communication was lost.
Officials said the pilot did not issue a Mayday distress call before contact was lost, indicating that the crew may not have had sufficient time to formally declare an emergency due to the rapid sequence of events.
Following the disappearance, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) activated a coordinated search and rescue mission involving military and civilian agencies.
Investigation to follow
The cause of the aircraft’s disappearance remains unknown. Aviation authorities said a formal investigation will be launched once the aircraft is located, with the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The incident has revived memories of previous aviation tragedies involving cargo aircraft in Karachi, underscoring the challenges faced during emergency response operations over the Arabian Sea.