The pilot of a missing Boeing 737 cargo plane transmitted haunting final words before the aircraft vanished over the Arabian Sea, officials have confirmed. The pilot reported the plane was 'rolling or floating' shortly before air traffic control lost contact, suggesting a possible flight control failure.
Last Transmission Details
The cargo plane, operated by K2 Airways, was flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi, Pakistan, when it reported a navigation system issue at 9:18 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The pilot described the aircraft as 'rolling or floating,' terms that experts interpret as indicating a serious problem with the flying system.
'Rolling' refers to a plane tilting from side to side, which can be intentional during turns but, if uncommanded, may signal flight control failure, severe turbulence, structural damage, or engine issues. 'Floating' is typically used during landing when a plane stays airborne above the runway due to excessive speed or ground effect.
Rapid Descent and Loss of Contact
Radar data shows the aircraft rapidly descended and made a sharp change in direction around 9:21 p.m., before both radar and radio contact were lost 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates the plane initially lost altitude, briefly climbed, then plunged dramatically. The last data point placed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, an extraordinarily steep descent, according to Reuters.
The plane is believed to have plummeted roughly 35,000 feet in less than two minutes. A major search operation involving the navy and air force is underway to locate the missing jet, which is thought to have at least five people on board.
Aircraft and Airline Background
The Boeing 737-400 is a decades-old model, initially delivered as a passenger plane to Russia's Aeroflot in 1999 and converted into a freighter in 2012. It is K2 Airways' sole aircraft and began operating with the carrier in 2024. K2 Airways is a private Pakistani cargo airline headquartered at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Established in 2017, the airline operates scheduled and charter freight services, mainly linking domestic hubs and regional international destinations.
