K2 Airways cargo plane goes missing off Karachi coast after reporting navigation issue

A K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo aircraft en route from Sharjah to Karachi went missing on Tuesday night after reporting a navigational system malfunction, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale search and rescue operation, Pakistan Airports Authority said in a statement. According to initial information, the Pakistan-registered cargo flight reported a navigational system issue at 9:18pm PST while approaching Pakistani airspace. 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. Shortly afterwards, both radar contact and communication with the aircraft were lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. The Rescue Coordination Centre was immediately activated following the incident, and a coordinated search and rescue operation at sea was launched involving multiple agencies to locate the missing aircraft. Officials said the aircraft was carrying five crew members. No information regarding their condition was immediately available. Authorities are continuing search efforts, while the cause of the reported navigational system issue and the subsequent loss of contact remains under investigation.