A search operation is underway for a cargo plane carrying five crew members that vanished off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan. Aviation officials reported that the Boeing 737, operated by K2 Airways, rapidly descended and lost contact with air traffic controllers on Tuesday at 21:21 local time (16:21 GMT).
The aircraft had been en route to Karachi from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Minutes before its descent, the plane reported a navigation system problem, according to the Pakistan airport authority.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated a sharp fluctuation in the plane's altitude before its steep descent. Various agencies, including the navy and air force, have been deployed to assist in the search for the missing aircraft.
K2 Airways, a private cargo airline founded in 2018, confirmed the identities of the five crew members on board and stated it is cooperating fully with government agencies. "We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues," the airline said in a statement.
The last major aviation incident in Pakistan occurred in 2020 when a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane crashed while approaching Karachi airport, killing all but two of the 99 people on board.