A Pakistan-registered K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo aircraft went missing off the coast of Karachi on Tuesday night after reporting a navigational system problem, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale search and rescue operation.
According to initial information, the K2 Airways cargo flight was travelling from Sharjah to Karachi when, at 9:18pm PST, the crew reported a navigational system issue to Air Traffic Control.
The aircraft was immediately provided navigational assistance by the Karachi Area Control Centre (ACC).
However, at 9:21pm PST, air traffic controllers observed the aircraft making a rapid descent accompanied by a sudden change in heading on radar. Moments later, both radar contact and communication with the aircraft were lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Following the incident, the Rescue Coordination Centre was activated, and a search and rescue operation was launched in the Arabian Sea in coordination with multiple agencies to locate the missing aircraft.
Officials said the aircraft had five crew members on board at the time of the incident.
No information about the condition of the crew or the possible cause of the aircraft's disappearance was immediately available.
Authorities said rescue efforts were continuing, and further details would be released as more information becomes available.