A cargo aircraft operated by Pakistan's private airline K2 Airways is feared to have crashed after disappearing from radar near Ormara on Tuesday while returning to Karachi from Sharjah after undergoing repairs, prompting a multi-agency search and rescue operation at sea, aviation sources said.
The Boeing 737 had been sent to Sharjah after developing a technical fault and was on a ferry flight back to Karachi following repairs, the sources said. The aircraft had been repaired by Sharjah-based company Northern Technik, which the sources said is owned by a former adviser to Pakistan's aviation sector.
The aircraft was carrying its two-member flight crew — Captain Rizwan and First Officer Faisal Jatoi — as it returned from the United Arab Emirates, according to the sources. However, the Pakistan Airports Authority said there were five crew members on board the aircraft.
The aircraft made its last contact with Karachi Air Traffic Control at 9:20pm local time. During its final radio transmission, the crew reported a communications system failure, the sources said.
After reporting the malfunction, the aircraft began descending rapidly before disappearing from radar about 120 miles (193 km) south of Karachi, according to the sources.
Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation involving assets from the navy, air force and commercial shipping.
The Pakistan Navy deployed the warship PNS Zulfiqar, while a Pakistan Air Force Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and a Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft joined the aerial search.
A Pakistan National Shipping Corporation's commercial vessel was also dispatched to assist in the search operation.
The cause of the incident was not immediately known, and there was no official confirmation on the aircraft's status. Rescue efforts were continuing late on Tuesday.
