A Boeing 737-400 cargo airplane with five crew on board lost all contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from flight tracking systems Tuesday night over the Arabian Sea.
The aircraft, operated by K2 Airways of Pakistan, departed Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and was en route to Karachi when the crew reported a problem with the navigation system, Pakistani aviation authorities said Wednesday. According to Flightradar24, preliminary ADS-B data shows the 737 experienced a loss of altitude, climbed, and then suddenly descended again, likely plunging into the sea.
The data indicates that the airplane was off the coast of Pakistan when it vanished.
Search and rescue operations are now underway. The Pakistan Navy and Air Force are leading the effort.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that he ordered rescuers to speed up and intensify operations in the area where the airplane disappeared. He made no statement about the condition of the crew but extended “heartfelt condolences” to their families.
K2 said the crew consisted of two pilots, two engineers, and one support staffer. The carrier said it is cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
According to some accounts, the missing 737 is K2’s only aircraft.
Boeing had not commented on the incident as of Wednesday morning.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
