Pakistan’s Navy and civilian authorities have expanded the search for a cargo plane operated by K2 Airways that disappeared from radar and lost contact with air traffic control. The aircraft was en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to the southern port city of Karachi with five people on board.
Officials reported that the plane, a private carrier, had indicated a navigational system issue before contact was lost. The search operation is being challenged by a vast search area in the Arabian Sea and rough monsoon conditions.
Radar data indicated the aircraft made a sharp change in heading and descended rapidly before contact was lost at approximately 9:21 p.m. local time, about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. Pakistan’s military and civilian agencies activated the Rescue Coordination Center and initiated search-and-rescue operations shortly after the aircraft went missing.
Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Zulfiqar has been dispatched to the last known location of the aircraft. The Pakistan Air Force has also deployed aircraft, and a Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft took off from Turbat to assist in the search. A merchant vessel operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corp. has also joined the effort.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the government to deploy all available resources for the search. K2 Airways stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing and the company is cooperating fully with aviation authorities. The company identified the missing crew as Capt. Muhammad Rizwan Idris, First Officer Faisal Jatoi, flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan.
Aviation experts have noted that even in the event of engine failure, an aircraft would typically glide rather than plummet suddenly, leaving the exact cause of the disappearance unclear pending further investigation.