**Title: Pakistan Cargo Plane Missing After Losing Contact Near Karachi**
A Pakistan-registered Boeing BA.N 737 cargo plane, operated by K2 Airways, has gone missing after losing contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night. The aircraft, carrying five crew members, reported a navigational system issue while en route to Karachi from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, according to Pakistan aviation authorities.
The incident occurred around 9:18 PM Pakistan Standard Time (1618 GMT) when the plane indicated difficulties with its navigational systems. Local air traffic control attempted to assist the aircraft, but just three minutes later, radar tracking showed a rapid descent, and communication was lost. At the time of the last radar contact, the plane was approximately 155 nautical miles (287 km) west of Karachi.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 provided early data indicating that the 27-year-old converted freighter may have crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi. The tracking data revealed erratic altitude changes in the final moments of the flight, with the aircraft experiencing a dramatic drop of about 5,000 feet in less than a minute, followed by a surge of approximately 6,000 feet in just 30 seconds before a catastrophic descent from 36,550 feet. The last data point recorded the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level, descending at a staggering vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, equivalent to around 400 kilometers per hour.
Aerospace safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse commented on the unusual descent, stating, “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.”
In response to the incident, the Pakistan Airports Authority announced that a coordinated search and rescue operation has been initiated, involving various agencies to locate the missing plane. K2 Airways has expressed its commitment to cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government bodies in the ongoing search efforts. The airline also conveyed its hopes for the safety of its crew members through a message on social media.
The aircraft in question is part of Boeing's longstanding 737 family but is two generations older than the 737 MAX, which has been involved in previous safety concerns. The specific model, a 737-400, was first delivered as a passenger aircraft to Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, in 1999 and was converted into a freighter in 2012. K2 Airways acquired the aircraft, which is its only operational plane, in 2024. Prior to this flight, the aircraft had not been in service since June 28, 2023.
If the search efforts confirm casualties, this incident would mark the first fatal crash in Pakistan since 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed short of the runway in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of 97 individuals. The 2020 crash was attributed to pilot distraction during a failed landing attempt amid discussions regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
As the search continues, aviation authorities and K2 Airways remain hopeful for a positive outcome, while the aviation community watches closely for further developments regarding this tragic incident.