Wreckage of missing cargo plane found, Pakistan Airports Authority says
Search Teams Locate Missing Cargo Aircraft Off Pakistani Coast
Wreckage of missing cargo plane found – Rescue personnel in Pakistan have successfully identified the debris field of a Boeing cargo aircraft following an extensive maritime search operation that concluded on Wednesday. The discovery came approximately twelve hours after the vessel disappeared from radar screens near Karachi’s coastline. Officials confirmed that recovery teams are now actively searching for the five individuals who were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.
Location and Recovery Details
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the wreckage of the K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter was located roughly 53 nautical miles, equivalent to 98 kilometers, directly south of Ormara port. The authority noted that both the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency contributed various aerial and maritime resources to the search effort. These combined assets continue their work to locate all crew members who remain unaccounted for.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally instructed government bodies to accelerate the search operation for the twenty-seven-year-old converted cargo vessel. The aircraft had been traveling through the Arabian Sea when it reported difficulties with its navigation equipment before vanishing from tracking systems.
Crew Information and Official Response
K2 Airways, which operates the aircraft, provided details about the personnel on board. The team consisted of two pilots, two engineers, and one support staff member. While no formal announcement regarding their condition has been issued, the Prime Minister offered his sincere condolences to the families of those aboard.
Sharif expressed his heartfelt condolences to their families.
Flight Path and Descent Pattern
Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 analyzed the aircraft’s final moments and suggested it may have impacted the ocean surface southwest of Karachi. The data revealed a series of abrupt altitude fluctuations followed by a dramatic final descent. Local air traffic controllers attempted to assist the aircraft, but radar systems captured a rapid downward movement just three minutes later, after which all communication ceased.
At the moment of the last contact, the aircraft was positioned approximately 155 nautical miles, or 287 kilometers, west of Karachi. The tracking information showed considerable turbulence in the final minutes, with the plane dropping nearly 5,000 feet in under sixty seconds before climbing roughly 6,000 feet within half a minute. This was immediately followed by a severe dive from an altitude of 36,550 feet.
The final transmitted signal indicated the aircraft was at 1,100 feet above sea level with a vertical descent rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute. This equates to approximately 400 kilometers per hour, representing an exceptionally steep and unusual rate of fall.
Aircraft Background and Historical Context
The missing aircraft is one of Boeing’s older 737-400 models, representing two generations before the 737 MAX series that has faced various safety challenges. The engines powering this particular aircraft are manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran. Flightradar24 records indicate the aircraft was originally delivered as a passenger plane to Russia’s Aeroflot in 1999 before being converted to freight service in 2012.
This aircraft holds special significance for K2 Airways as it represents the carrier’s sole aircraft in its fleet. It began operations with the company in 2024, and its previous flight occurred on June 28 according to available tracking data. Boeing has not yet issued any public statement regarding the incident.
If confirmed, this event would mark Pakistan’s first fatal aviation accident since 2020. That year, a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed short of the runway in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of 97 passengers and crew members.