A Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways has gone missing after the crew reported a navigational system malfunction.
The aircraft was flying toward Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday night when contact was lost.
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Erratic Flight Data
According to Flightradar24, the 27-year-old freighter experienced erratic altitude changes before a steep descent into the sea southwest of Karachi.
The plane was at 36,550 feet when it plummeted about 5,000 feet in under a minute, then climbed 6,000 feet within 30 seconds.
It entered a final dive transmission at 1,100 feet with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute.
The Pakistan Airports Authority stated that air traffic control lost radar contact and communication at 9:21 p.
m. local time, just three minutes after the crew reported the system issue.
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Search and Rescue Underway
A coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving multiple maritime agencies has been launched. The aircraft had not flown since June 28 before this flight.
The operator expressed concern on social media and is cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
"We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues," the aircraft operator said. Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse noted that the erratic altitude data warrants caution.
"Anytime you see something extreme like that, it catches your eye, but it is too soon to say what any of it means without more information," he said.
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The missing Boeing 737 entered service with K2 Airways in 2024 as its only aircraft and belongs to an older generation than the 737 MAX models.
