A private cargo plane that disappeared while flying from Sharjah in the UAE to Karachi has been found in the Arabian Sea, Pakistani authorities confirmed on Wednesday. Rescue teams located the wreckage after an overnight search, but the five crew members who were on board remain missing.
The Boeing 737 cargo aircraft, operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways, lost contact with air traffic controllers late on Tuesday while approaching Pakistan.
Wreckage Located Off Balochistan Coast
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said the aircraft’s wreckage was discovered around 53 nautical miles south of Ormara, along the Balochistan coast, after nearly 12 hours of search and rescue operations.
According to the authority, the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency “successfully located and identified wreckage” of the aircraft. It added that “efforts are underway to find the missing crew members”.
A senior PAA source said the debris was found close to the point where the aircraft had last been tracked by air traffic controllers. The source added, “There are remote chances of the five crew members having survived the crash.”
Five Pakistani Crew Members Were on Board
All five people aboard the aircraft were Pakistani nationals. They have been identified as:
- Captain Muhammad Rizwan Idris
- First Officer Faisal Jatoi
- Flight Engineer Muhammad Hamid
- Flight Engineer Muhammad Arif Siddiqui
- Loadmaster Muhammad Taufiq Khan
Search teams continue to look for the missing crew in the surrounding waters.
Investigation Begins
Following the discovery of the wreckage, authorities secured the crash site and started collecting evidence.
Officials said an investigation is now under way to establish what caused the aircraft to crash. They are also continuing efforts to gather information about the crew and the ongoing recovery operation.
Pakistan Leaders Express Condolences
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force to step up search and rescue efforts in the Arabian Sea.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences to the families of the missing crew and conveyed his support during what his office described as a difficult time.
Aircraft Reported Technical and Navigation Issues
Reports said the cargo plane was flying at an altitude of around 34,000 feet before it disappeared. It had reportedly remained in Sharjah for around 10 days after developing a technical fault before resuming its journey.
The PAA said the aircraft reported a navigational system issue at 9:18 pm local time on Tuesday and was immediately assisted by Karachi Area Control Centre.
“However, at 09:22 pm (local time), the aircraft was observed on radar rapidly descending with a rapid heading change. Subsequently, radar contact and communication were lost approximately 155 NM west of Karachi,” the authority said.
Commercial ships operated by the National Shipping Corporation were also deployed to assist in the search operation.
Search Operation Continues
While the aircraft’s wreckage has now been recovered from the Arabian Sea, rescue teams are continuing the search for the five missing crew members. Meanwhile, investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the crash.
First published on: Jul 09, 2026 06:47 AM IST
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