A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane carrying five crew members lost contact with air traffic control on Tuesday night after experiencing a navigational system problem en route to Karachi. Pakistan aviation authorities are leading a coordinated sea search and rescue operation.
Early flight data suggests the 27-year-old aircraft, operated by K2 Airways, may have crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi. The plane, flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, experienced sharp altitude changes before a steep final descent, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
The aircraft reported the navigational issue at 9:18 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time (4:18 p.m. GMT). Air traffic control attempted to guide the plane, but radar showed it descending rapidly three minutes later, at which point communication was lost. At the time of the last contact, the flight was approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Flightradar24 data depicted a turbulent final sequence for the plane, which plunged about 5,000 feet in under a minute, then ascended approximately 6,000 feet in 30 seconds before a rapid dive from 36,550 feet. The final data point showed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level, descending at a rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute.
K2 Airways confirmed it is cooperating with aviation authorities and expressed hope for the crew's safety. Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The missing aircraft is a Boeing 737-400, a model from an earlier generation of the 737 family, distinct from the more recent 737 MAX. This particular plane was first delivered in 1999 and converted to a freighter in 2012. It is K2 Airways' only aircraft and had been in service with the carrier since 2024. Prior to its last flight, the plane had not flown since June 28.
If confirmed, this incident would mark the first fatal air crash in Pakistan since 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed near Karachi, resulting in 97 fatalities.