The disappearance of a Boeing 737 cargo plane off the coast of Pakistan has sent shockwaves through the global aviation community, with five crew members on board feared to be in grave danger. The incident highlights concerns about safety procedures and emergency protocols, particularly for older aircraft models still in service.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the plane, operated by K2 Airways, encountered a navigational issue while flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi on Tuesday night. Radar systems showed a rapid descent of around 5,000 feet within one minute, followed by an even steeper drop from 36,550 feet.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that local air traffic control attempted to guide the plane, but communication was lost three minutes after the issue was reported. At the time of contact loss, the aircraft was approximately 287 kilometres west of Karachi.
Details from Flightradar24's tracking data paint a disturbing picture: within just 30 seconds, the plane surged back up by 6,000 feet only to dive again at an unprecedented vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute. This equates to around 400 kilometres per hour.
K2 Airways has expressed its full cooperation with Pakistani authorities and pledged prayers for the safe recovery of their crew members. The missing aircraft is part of Boeing's older 737 family, a model that has faced growing scrutiny in recent years due to safety concerns. This particular plane had not flown since June 28.