A cargo aircraft carrying five crew members has gone missing after losing contact with air traffic control while flying from Sharjah to Karachi. The incident has prompted a large scale search and rescue operation, with both military and civilian authorities working together to locate the aircraft and its crew.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the aircraft disappeared approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi after reporting a problem with its navigation system. Air traffic controllers immediately guided the crew after receiving the malfunction report, but communication was lost shortly afterward.
The missing aircraft is a 27 year old Boeing 737 cargo plane operated by a Pakistani cargo company. Flight tracking information showed that the aircraft was flying normally at an altitude of 35,000 feet with a speed of around 790 kilometers per hour before the situation suddenly changed.
Flight data indicates that the aircraft unexpectedly made a sharp U turn before beginning a rapid descent. Within only a few minutes, it lost nearly 34,000 feet of altitude, eventually reaching about 1,100 feet while slowing significantly before disappearing from radar completely.
Officials also confirmed that the pilot did not issue a Mayday distress call, suggesting the emergency may have developed too quickly for the crew to respond. The Rescue Coordination Centre was activated immediately after contact was lost.
The search mission has expanded across the Arabian Sea. The Pakistan Navy has deployed PNS Zulfiqar, PNS Hunain, and a Navy ATR aircraft from Turbat. The Pakistan Air Force has also joined the operation by sending a Saab surveillance aircraft to assist in aerial searches. In addition, commercial ships operated by the National Shipping Corporation have been dispatched to help scan the search area.
Despite extensive efforts involving multiple aircraft and naval vessels, no wreckage or signs of the five crew members have been found so far. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while rescue teams remain engaged in the ongoing search operation.
