KARACHI – A K2 Airways cargo aircraft en route from Sharjah to Karachi disappeared from radar over the Arabian Sea, about 300 kilometres west of Karachi, late on Tuesday night.
The development was confirmed by the Pakistan Airports Authority, stating that the Flight KTA-1732 lost contact approximately 300 kilometers from Karachi, about 155 nautical miles west of the city, while approaching Pakistan’s airspace.
PAA said the crew reported navigational system issue at 9:18 and was promptly guided by Karachi Air Traffic Controller.
“However; at time 2121PST aircraft was observed on RADAR rapidly descending and with rapid heading change, subsequently RADAR contact and communication was lost approximately 155 NM west of Karachi,” read the official statement.
Following the occurrence rescue coordination centre has been activated and coordinated Search & Rescue launched at sea through various agencies to locate the missing aircraft.
There were five crew members onboard the aircraft.
A Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft has joined the search and rescue operation for the Pakistani cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea near Ormara, according to sources.
Sources said the Navy aircraft departed from Turbat to assist in the operation, while the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s commercial vessel Lahore has also been deployed to support search and rescue efforts.
K2 Airways Cargo Aircraft Crew Identified
The aircraft was being flown by Captain Rizwan Idrees and First Officer Faisal Mehmood. Other crew members on board included engineer Muhammad Hamid, Arif Siddiqui and loadmaster Taufiq Khan.
According to Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) officials, the aircraft had been flown from Karachi to Sharjah on June 28 for mechanical work after developing a technical fault.
The aircraft was returning from Sharjah on a ferry flight without cargo when communication with the control tower was suddenly lost.
