On Tuesday night, a Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways lost contact with air traffic control while flying from Sharjah, UAE, to Karachi. The aircraft was reported missing over the Arabian Sea near Ormara, Balochistan, prompting a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
Search Operation Underway for Missing Crew
Pakistani authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the wreckage of the missing cargo plane was located in the Arabian Sea, off the southern coast town of Ormara. Rescuers faced significant challenges, including rough monsoon seas, while searching for the aircraft for over 12 hours. The Pakistan Navy and maritime rescue agency reported that efforts are ongoing to locate the five missing crew members.
The plane was carrying two pilots, two engineers, and one support staff member. In a statement, K2 Airways expressed their commitment to cooperating with the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies during the search. “We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues,” the airline added.
Details Surrounding the Aircraft Incident
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 cargo plane, experienced a technical problem before losing contact. Reports indicate that radar systems showed the plane descending rapidly prior to communication loss. Preliminary data from Flightradar24.com indicated a drastic loss of altitude, with the aircraft descending at a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute.
“Anytime you see something extreme like that, it catches your eye, but it is too soon to say what any of it means without more information,” said Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety consultant.
History of the Aircraft and Previous Incidents
The missing cargo plane was manufactured in 1999 and was formerly a passenger aircraft operated by Aeroflot and Garuda Indonesia before being converted to cargo configuration in 2012. This incident marks a troubling chapter for aviation safety in Pakistan, as the last significant airline accident occurred in May 2020, involving a passenger plane that crashed during landing.
- Aircraft Type: Boeing 737
- Missing Since: Tuesday night
- Location: Arabian Sea near Ormara
- Search Duration: Over 12 hours
- Crew Members: 5 (2 pilots, 2 engineers, 1 support staff)
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by DW English. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
