K2 Airways Cargo Plane Missing Near Karachi in 3 Minutes, Search Operation Continues

A K2 Airways cargo plane missing near Karachi has triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation in the Arabian Sea after the aircraft disappeared from radar late Tuesday night.

Pakistan’s airport officials said the Boeing 737 cargo plane had five crew members on board as it flew from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Karachi. The plane reportedly had a navigation problem at approximately 9:18 p.m. local time.

In just a few minutes, the radar showed the plane making a sudden change of direction and was rapidly descending. Though contact with air traffic control and radar was lost at around 9.21 pm, approximately 155 nautical miles (287 km) west of Karachi.

The Airport Authority immediately activated the Rescue Coordination Center and an extensive search operation in the Arabian Sea was undertaken following the incident.

The military and civilian agencies of Pakistan were immediately involved in the rescue drive. The Pakistan Navy sent PNS Zulfiqar to the spot where the aircraft went missing, while the Pakistan Air Force sent its aircraft to help in the search. A Pakistan Navy ATR took off from Turbat for assistance in the operation. A merchant ship from Pakistan National Shipping Corporation was also sent to aid in the search of the missing aircraft.

The exact cause of the incident has yet to be identified, say aviation experts. Aviation expert Imran Aslam said that a commercial plane was unlikely to plunge so quickly in the event of an engine failure, making the disappearance unusual.

K2 Airways is a Karachi-based private cargo airline that was founded in 2018, but hasn’t provided a lot of detail about the incident.

Authorities have not confirmed the fate of the aircraft or its five crew members. Search and rescue efforts are continuing, and further updates are expected as officials gather more information.