Boeing 737 Disappears Over Arabian Sea Near Pakistan

A K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo plane with five crew members vanished from radar over the Arabian Sea during its flight from Sharjah to Karachi.

A K2 Airways cargo plane, with five crew members on board, has gone missing while flying over the Arabian Sea. The Boeing 737 disappeared from radar approximately 80 minutes into its two-hour journey from Sharjah in the UAE to Karachi, Pakistan.

Reports indicate that three minutes before losing contact, the pilots communicated a “navigational system issue” to air traffic control in Karachi, which prompted assistance from the Pakistan Airports Authority. Flight data, as per Flightradar24, shows that the aircraft initially dropped in altitude, climbed briefly, and then descended at a concerning rate of 22,400 feet per minute—much faster than the typical maximum descent rate of 3,000 feet per minute for commercial airliners.

A search-and-rescue operation is currently underway, with various agencies scouring the sea as the Pakistan Airports Authority confirms its commitment to finding the aircraft.

K2 Airways, based in Karachi, stated via a Facebook post that it is collaborating with government agencies on the ongoing investigation, expressing hope for the safety of its crew. The plane, registered as AP-BOI, marked a significant part of K2 Airways’ fleet, reportedly its only aircraft.

Boeing has not yet commented on the situation due to time zone differences affecting the response from the U.S.

The Boeing 737 had a lengthy operational history, having flown for over 27 years since its introduction by Russia’s Aeroflot in 1999. It was converted into a freighter in 2012 and has seen service with various carriers before its current operation.

This incident is reminiscent of past aviation tragedies in Pakistan. Notably, in 2020, an Airbus A320 operated by Pakistan International Airlines crashed near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, claiming 98 lives. Additionally, a military plane crashed in Rawalpindi in 2019, resulting in the loss of five crew members and 13 civilians on the ground. There was also a tragic Airblue flight incident in 2010 near Islamabad, killing more than 150 people.

As the situation develops, updates will be released following any significant findings from the search efforts.