K2 Airways Cargo 737 Missing Off Karachi Coast, Search Underway

‍KARACHI — Pakistani authorities have launched a search-and-rescue operation after a K2 Airways cargo flight carrying five crew members lost contact over the Arabian Sea while en route from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) to Karachi Jinnah International Airport (KHI).

The Boeing 737-400 freighter, operating as KTA1732, reported a navigation-system issue at approximately 9:18 p.m. local time before rapidly descending, changing heading, and losing radar and radio contact about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, according to Pakistan’s airport authority.

Authorities have not confirmed a crash site or located wreckage.

Search Assets Deployed

Pakistan’s Rescue Coordination Center has activated a multi-agency search involving military and civilian assets.

The Pakistan Navy diverted the frigate PNS Zulfiqar toward the last known area, while a Navy ATR aircraft, Pakistan Air Force assets, and a Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessel have also joined the search, officials said.

The missing aircraft was identified as AP-BOI, a Boeing 737-4M0(BDSF) freighter operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways. The aircraft had been scheduled to arrive in Karachi from Sharjah on Tuesday evening.

Flight Data Shows Sudden Final Descent

Flightradar24 said preliminary ADS-B information showed the aircraft first losing altitude, then climbing, before entering a second, steep descent. The final received data point was recorded at 16:21 UTC, when the aircraft was at 1,100 feet above mean sea level with a reported vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute.

That information is consistent with a serious emergency, but flight-tracking data alone does not establish a cause or confirm an accident. Investigators will need to determine whether the reported navigation issue, other technical factors, weather, operational circumstances, or another cause played a role.

A Young Cargo Operator

K2 Airways is a Karachi-based cargo carrier that began operating in Pakistan in 2018. The airline uses Boeing 737 freighters for domestic and regional cargo work, positioning itself as a dedicated logistics operator in a market largely served by passenger-airline belly cargo and ad hoc charter services.

The incident comes as the aviation community awaits further information from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, the airline, and search-and-rescue agencies.

For now, the confirmed facts are limited: KTA1732 failed to reach Karachi as scheduled, contact was lost west of the city, and a search is under way for the aircraft and its five crew members.