Pakistan has located the wreckage of a K2 Airways Boeing cargo plane that crashed into the sea south-west of Karachi with five crew members on board, as rescuers search for those who were aboard.
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Key facts
- A Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways went missing off the coast of Karachi.
- The aircraft was carrying five crew members.
- The plane was flying to Karachi from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
- Radar showed the plane rapidly descending on Tuesday evening after reporting a navigational system issue.
- Pakistan's airports authority says the wreckage has been located and rescuers are searching for the crew.
Pakistan has located the wreckage of a Boeing cargo plane that went missing off the country’s coast, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said. Rescuers were searching for the five crew members who were on board when the aircraft disappeared.
According to the PAA, the plane was approaching Karachi from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when radar showed it “rapidly descending” on Tuesday evening. The aircraft had reported a “navigational system issue” before it went down.
Early flight data indicates the K2 Airways plane crashed into the sea south-west of Karachi, the Guardian reported. All five people believed to be on board were crew members.
The discovery of the wreckage marks a step forward in the response effort, though the fate of the crew remained unclear as search operations continued.
The circumstances surrounding the reported navigational system issue and the rapid descent have not been detailed further by authorities at this stage.
Why it matters
Cargo aviation is a vital link in global trade, and incidents involving commercial aircraft draw scrutiny of safety and maintenance standards. The reported navigational system issue and rapid descent will likely be central to any investigation into how the plane came down.
Frequently asked questions
What plane went missing off the coast of Karachi?
A Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by K2 Airways, which was carrying five crew members, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority.
Where was the plane flying from and to?
The aircraft was approaching Karachi from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when it went missing.
What caused the plane to go down?
Radar showed the plane rapidly descending on Tuesday evening after it reported a navigational system issue, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority. Further details have not been provided.
Timeline
- Pakistan locates wreckage of Boeing 737 cargo plane that went missing off coast
The Guardian World: Early flight data shows K2 Airways plane crashed into sea with five crew on board south-west of Karachi Pakistan has located the wreckage of a Boeing cargo plane, the country’s airports authority said, adding that rescuers were searching for the five crew members on board when th