ISLAMABAD: A K2 Airways B737 Pakistani cargo flight en route from Sharjah to Karachi reported a navigational system issue at 2118 PST and was promptly guided by Karachi Area Control Center (ACC), according to a statement by the Pakistan Airports Authority on Tuesday.
The authority said that at 2121 PST, the aircraft was observed on radar “rapidly descending with a rapid heading change.” Subsequently, radar contact and communication were lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, the statement said.
Following the occurrence, the Rescue Coordination Centre was activated, and a coordinated search and rescue operation at sea was launched through various agencies to locate the missing aircraft.
A search and rescue operation has been launched to locate the aircraft that went missing over the sea, sources said, adding that as part of the ongoing search and rescue operation, the Pakistan Navy warship PNS Zulfiqar has been dispatched to the affected area, sources said.
The sources added that the Pakistan Air Force Saab aircraft is also participating in the search operation.
"A Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft has taken off from Turbat and joined the search operation," sources said.
The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation merchant vessel Lahore has also been deployed for the search and rescue operation, it added.
There were five crew members onboard the aircraft, the Pakistan Airports Authority said in its statement.
