The Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) confirmed on Friday that search and rescue operations for the missing K2 Airways cargo aircraft remain active in deep sea waters. The PAA announced via posts on X that the Pakistan Navy (PN) and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) are continuing coordinated missions to locate the aircraft and its five crew members.
Ongoing Search Efforts
“The search for the crew members is continuing with full vigour through the coordinated employment of aerial and sea-borne assets,” the PAA stated. The authority also reported that “additional parts and debris of the ill-fated aircraft have been located and retrieved for subsequent analysis by the investigation team.” The PAA pledged to share further updates as the operation progresses.
Incident Timeline
Late Tuesday night, a K2 Airways Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft carrying five crew members went missing off the coast of Karachi. According to the PAA, the flight was en route from Sharjah to Karachi at 2118 PST when it reported a navigational system issue. The Karachi Area Control Centre promptly guided the aircraft. However, at 2121 PST, the aircraft was observed on radar rapidly descending with a sudden heading change. Radar contact and communication were lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Wreckage Discovery
After a 12-hour search, the Pakistan Navy and maritime rescue agency successfully located and identified the wreckage of the K2 Airways cargo B737 in the Arabian Sea, off the town of Ormara on Pakistan’s southern coast. The PAA confirmed the discovery in a statement on X.
Investigation and Next Steps
Retrieved debris will be analyzed by the investigation team to determine the cause of the crash. The search for the five crew members continues with full vigour, utilizing both aerial and sea-borne assets. The PAA has not provided a timeline for when further updates will be released.
