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A K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo aircraft with five crew members aboard went missing late Tuesday over the Arabian Sea after reporting a navigation system problem on a flight from Sharjah to Karachi.
Search widens off Pakistan coast
Pakistan aviation authorities said the aircraft lost radar and radio contact around 9:21 p.m. local time, about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, after a rapid descent and sharp change in heading.
Search and rescue operations were launched at sea, involving civilian agencies, the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and maritime assets. The Navy frigate PNS Zulfiqar was diverted to the area, while an ATR aircraft and a Pakistan National Shipping Corp. vessel were also dispatched.
Cargo and safety questions
The incident matters beyond aviation safety because Karachi is Pakistan’s main maritime gateway and a key cargo hub for regional trade with the Gulf. Any prolonged search, investigation or operational review could affect confidence in smaller cargo operators serving Gulf and Pakistan trade lanes.
Authorities have not said what cargo was on board. They also have not confirmed the cause of the disappearance.
Aviation expert Imran Aslam told ARY News that the reported rapid descent appeared unusual, saying an aircraft with engine failure would normally continue gliding rather than fall abruptly.
Investigation likely to follow
According to K2 Airways, the carrier is a private cargo airline based in Karachi and was established in May 2018. The aircraft was operating from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when the crew reported the technical issue.
The next phase is expected to focus on locating the aircraft, recovering any wreckage and flight recorders, and determining whether the problem was linked to navigation, aircraft systems, weather or another factor.
Source: AP
