The final words of the pilot of a Boeing 737 cargo plane that disappeared over the Arabian Sea have been published by officials. The aircraft, operated by K2 Airways, was carrying at least five people when it lost contact and rapidly descended off the coast of Pakistan on Tuesday.
Final Transmission and Search Efforts
The missing Boeing 737 was found after a 12-hour search, with wreckage located near the Pakistani coast. The plane went missing 80 minutes into a two-hour flight from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Karachi, Pakistan. The last transmission from the pilot described the aircraft as "rolling or floating," which experts interpret as a possible issue with the flight control system, according to the Daily Star.
"Rolling" is a term used by pilots to describe when a plane tilts from side to side. While intentional during turns, an uncommanded roll can indicate serious problems such as flight control failure, severe turbulence, structural damage, or asymmetric lift or engine issues. "Floating" is normally used during landing, referring to when the plane stays airborne above the runway due to excessive speed or ground effect.
Navigation System Issue and Rapid Descent
The Boeing 737 was on a cargo flight from Sharjah to Karachi when it reported a navigation system issue at 9:18 PM local time, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Pakistan's Airports Authority stated, "K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC." Radar data indicated the aircraft rapidly descended and made a sharp change in direction around 9:21 PM before radar and radio contact were lost 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 revealed the aircraft initially lost altitude, then briefly climbed, followed by another dramatic plunge. The last transmitted data point located the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, as reported by Reuters. This represents an extraordinarily steep and abnormal rate of descent. The plane is believed to have plummeted roughly 35,000 feet in less than two minutes.
Wreckage Discovery and Aircraft History
Local authorities found the remains of the aircraft over 50 miles south of Ormara. The Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed the wreckage was found on July 8. The aircraft is a Boeing 737-400, initially delivered as a passenger plane to Russia's Aeroflot in 1999, converted to a freighter in 2012, and began operating with K2 Airways in 2024. K2 Airways is a private Pakistani cargo airline headquartered at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, established in 2017, running scheduled and charter freight services.
