K2 Airways cargo plane missing over Arabian Sea after reporting issues

A multi-agency search-and-rescue mission is currently underway in the Arabian Sea following the disappearance of a K2 Airways cargo plane on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 freighter carrying five crew members, lost contact with air traffic control while en route from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Karachi, Pakistan.

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) reported that the flight first encountered difficulties at 9.18pm local time when the crew signaled a navigation system issue. Controllers at the Karachi Area Control Centre attempted to guide the aircraft, but the situation deteriorated within three minutes. At 9.21pm, radar systems observed the plane undergoing a sharp change in heading followed by a rapid, steep descent. Shortly thereafter, all radar and radio contact was severed while the aircraft was approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, near Ormara in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

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Flight-tracking data depicts a volatile sequence during the aircraft's final minutes. The freighter reportedly plunged nearly 5,000 feet in less than a minute, climbed approximately 6,000 feet within 30 seconds, and then entered a final descent. The last recorded data point placed the aircraft at an altitude of 1,100 feet above sea level with a vertical descent rate of -22,400 feet per minute. According to tracking services, the aircraft experienced GNSS interference shortly after its departure from Sharjah, though it resumed tracking via multilateration once it cleared the affected area.

The missing aircraft, registered as AP-BOI, was a 27-year-old freighter. Originally delivered to Aeroflot in 1999 as a passenger jet, it later served with Garuda Indonesia before being converted to a cargo configuration in 2012. It served as the sole aircraft for K2 Airways, a private carrier based at Jinnah International Airport that commenced operations in 2024.

Aviation experts have expressed confusion regarding the flight's final moments. Imran Aslam, speaking to ARY News, observed that even in the event of total engine failure, a Boeing 737 would typically maintain a glide path rather than succumb to a vertical plunge.

"I still cannot understand how the plane went down so abruptly instead of gliding."

Imran Aslam, Aviation expert, via ARY News

Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety consultant, noted the extreme nature of the data recorded by tracking services, though he cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions without further evidence.

Authorities have mobilized a comprehensive maritime and aerial search. Assets deployed to the area include:

• The Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Zulfiqar.
• A Pakistan Navy ATR surveillance aircraft.
• A Pakistan Air Force Saab surveillance aircraft performing aerial reconnaissance.
• A Pakistan National Shipping Corporation merchant vessel, the "Lahore."

The Rescue Coordination Centre was activated immediately following the loss of contact to manage the multi-agency response. While early flight data led some sources to suggest the freighter may have crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi, officials have not yet officially confirmed a crash site or provided details regarding potential casualties. The aircraft had reportedly not flown since 28 June 2026 before its final journey from Sharjah.

K2 Airways has stated that it is cooperating fully with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies. In a statement posted on social media, the airline expressed that it continues to pray for the safety of its colleagues.

Investigators are expected to prioritize the recovery of debris, the examination of flight data records, and a formal inquiry into the reported navigation system malfunction. This incident remains under investigation as search efforts continue through the Arabian Sea.