A major search and rescue operation is underway in Pakistan after a K2 Airways cargo aircraft carrying five crew members disappeared from radar over the Arabian Sea while approaching Karachi from the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the Boeing 737-400 cargo plane was en route from Sharjah to Karachi when it reported a navigational system malfunction at approximately 9:18 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Air traffic controllers immediately began assisting the crew, but just three minutes later the aircraft made a sudden change in heading, rapidly lost altitude, and vanished from radar around 155 nautical miles (287 kilometers) west of Karachi.

The missing aircraft was operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways, a private cargo carrier established in 2018. In a statement, the airline confirmed that five crew members were on board, identifying them as the captain, first officer, loadmaster, and two flight engineers. The company said it is fully cooperating with aviation authorities and remains hopeful for the safe recovery of its crew.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft experienced unusual altitude fluctuations shortly before disappearing. The plane reportedly descended thousands of feet, climbed again, and then entered a steep final descent with an exceptionally high rate of descent before radar and radio contact were lost, prompting fears that it may have crashed into the Arabian Sea. Aviation experts say the erratic flight profile is highly unusual and suggests the aircraft may have suffered a serious in-flight emergency.

Pakistani authorities have launched a large-scale search operation involving the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, the National Shipping Corporation, and the Maritime Security Agency. Naval frigate PNS Zulfiqar, surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and nearby merchant vessels have been deployed to search the aircraft's last known location over the Arabian Sea. Despite hours of searching, no confirmed wreckage, emergency locator beacon, or survivors had been located as of Wednesday.

The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation has opened a formal investigation into the incident. Officials said it remains too early to determine the cause of the disappearance, although investigators are expected to examine the reported navigation system malfunction, weather conditions, maintenance records, and flight data once evidence becomes available.

The disappearance has revived memories of Pakistan's deadliest recent aviation disaster in May 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed while attempting to land in Karachi, killing 97 of the 99 people on board. Authorities hope the ongoing search will provide answers about the fate of the missing cargo aircraft and its five crew members. (ILKHA)