Five crew members remain missing after the wreckage of a K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo aircraft was located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The privately operated freighter was travelling from Karachi to Sharjah when it disappeared from radar on Tuesday evening.
Aircraft Reported Navigation System Issue
The Pakistan Airports Authority said the aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers at 21:21 local time (16:21 GMT) after reporting a navigation system problem shortly before its rapid descent.
Search and rescue teams launched a large-scale operation involving both air and maritime assets.
Wreckage Found After 12-Hour Search
Following a 12-hour search, authorities located the aircraft wreckage approximately 53 nautical miles south of Ormara, a coastal town on the Arabian Sea around 360 kilometres west of Karachi.
Recovery operations are continuing as emergency services search for the five crew members who remain unaccounted for.
Investigation Underway
Pakistan’s aviation authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the reported navigation system malfunction, to determine the cause of the crash.
No further information has yet been released regarding the crew or the cargo being transported.
Pakistan’s Latest Major Aviation Incident
The accident marks Pakistan’s most significant aviation incident since 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines passenger aircraft crashed while approaching Karachi, resulting in the deaths of 97 of the 99 people on board.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the recovery and investigation progress.