The pilot of a doomed K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter transmitted his final words before the aircraft crashed into the Arabian Sea, according to reports. The plane, carrying five crew members, lost contact with air traffic control after reporting a navigational system issue.
Final Transmission and Crash Details
The pilot's last reported transmission described the aircraft as "rolling or floating," which experts interpret as a possible flight control problem. "Rolling" refers to a plane tilting side to side, which can indicate a serious issue such as flight control failure, severe turbulence, or structural damage. "Floating" is typically used during landing when a plane fails to touch down due to excessive speed or ground effect.
The Boeing 737 was operating a cargo flight from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Karachi, Pakistan. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the pilot reported a navigational system issue at 9:18 PM local time. Radar data showed the aircraft rapidly descending and making a sharp change in direction at 9:21 PM, before radar and radio contact were lost 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Search and Recovery
A massive 12-hour search operation located the wreckage near the coast of Pakistan, over 50 miles south of Ormara. The Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed the discovery on July 8. Data from Flightradar24 revealed the aircraft initially lost altitude, briefly climbed, then plunged dramatically. The last transmitted data point recorded the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, indicating an extraordinarily steep descent.
The plane is believed to have plummeted roughly 35,000 feet in less than two minutes. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, was originally delivered as a passenger plane to Russia's Aeroflot in 1999 and converted into a freighter in 2012. It was K2 Airways' sole aircraft, operating with the carrier since 2024.
Background on K2 Airways
K2 Airways is a private Pakistani cargo airline headquartered at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Established in 2017, the airline operated scheduled and charter freight services, connecting domestic hubs and regional international destinations.
