Credited from: ALJAZEERA
A cargo aircraft operated by K2 Airways disappeared while approaching Karachi, Pakistan's southern port, prompting a large-scale search operation. The Boeing 737 was carrying five crew members and went missing after reporting a navigation system fault at approximately 9:18 PM local time on Tuesday. The plane lost radar contact shortly thereafter, about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, according to the India Times and Al Jazeera.
After relentless efforts from both civilian and military teams, wreckage was ultimately located in the Arabian Sea after nearly 12 hours of searching. The Pakistan Navy, supported by civilian resources, has been conducting the operations, while the challenging monsoon conditions have complicated rescue efforts, as noted by officials from the South China Morning Post and India Times.
The missing crew members have been identified as Captain Muhammad Rizwan Idris, First Officer Faisal Jatoi, flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan. K2 Airways expressed their concerns for the safety of their colleagues, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued condolences to the families while directing the government to allocate resources for the search efforts, according to reports from Los Angeles Times and BBC.
Aviation experts have expressed confusion over the nature of the plane's descent, which appeared to be abrupt, contradicting typical behavior seen in engine failures. Comprehensive investigations will be necessary to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident, as highlighted by India Times and South China Morning Post.