A Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways is believed to have crashed into the Arabian Sea after rapidly descending off the coast of Pakistan, with a major navy and air force search operation now underway
The final words of the pilot aboard a Boeing 737 that mysteriously disappeared over the Arabian Sea have come to light, as a frantic search gets underway to locate those lost on-board after authorities located the wreckage of the missing aircraft at sea.
Air traffic control lost all communication with the cargo plane, believed to have at least five people on board, on Tuesday, shortly before it plummeted rapidly off the coast of Pakistan.
The reported last transmission from the pilot indicates he may have been battling to keep the aircraft under control, describing the PNS Zulfiqar as “rolling or floating” — a phrase experts believe suggests something went critically wrong with the flight system.
The term rolling is used amongst pilots to describe when a plane tilts from side to side. While rolling is frequently carried out deliberately during turns, an uncommanded roll can signal a serious malfunction, such as flight control failure, severe turbulence, structural damage, or asymmetric lift and engine problems.
The term floating is typically associated with landing, referring to when pilots remain airborne above the runway rather than touching down, either because the aircraft is travelling too fast or is experiencing ground effect, reports the Daily Star.
The Boeing 737 was operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways on a cargo flight from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it reported a fault with its navigation system at 9.18pm local time, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. “K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC,” the Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed in an official statement.
The Civil Aviation Authority reported that radar information showed the plane plummeting rapidly while executing an abrupt directional shift at approximately 9.21pm, before losing all radar and radio communication 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Information from aviation tracking platform Flightradar24 showed the jet initially dropping in altitude, momentarily gaining height, before experiencing another severe descent.
The final data transmission positioned the plane at 1,100 feet above sea level, descending at minus 22,400 feet per minute, according to Reuters news agency. This marks an exceptionally rapid and unusual descent rate.
Tracking information suggests the aircraft fell approximately 35,000 feet in under two minutes. An extensive rescue mission is currently in progress, with naval and air force personnel mobilised in an urgent search for the crew of the cargo plane.
The jet is amongst Boeing’s veteran 737 fleet. The 737-400 was originally supplied as a passenger aircraft to Russia’s Aeroflot in 1999, before being converted into a cargo carrier in 2012.
It serves as K2 Airways’ only plane and commenced service with the airline in 2024. K2 Airways is a privately-owned Pakistani freight carrier based at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
Founded in 2017, the airline operated both scheduled and charter cargo services, primarily connecting domestic airports and neighbouring international locations.
