The pilot of a K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo plane that vanished over the Arabian Sea off the coast of Pakistan reported the aircraft was "rolling or floating" in his final transmission. A major search operation involving the navy and air force is now underway for the missing aircraft, which is believed to have carried at least five people.
Final Transmission Details
Air traffic control lost contact with the cargo plane on Tuesday before it rapidly descended off the Pakistani coast. The pilot's last reported transmission indicated he may have been struggling to maintain control, describing the aircraft as "rolling or floating" — a phrase experts say suggests a serious problem with the plane's operating system.
The term "rolling" is used by pilots to describe when an aircraft tilts from side to side. While rolling is often deliberate during turns, an uncommanded roll can signal severe issues such as flight control failure, severe turbulence, structural damage, or asymmetric lift and engine problems. "Floating" typically refers to a landing situation where the aircraft remains airborne above the runway due to excessive speed or ground effect, according to the Daily Star.
Sequence of Events
The Boeing 737, operated by Karachi-based K2 Airways, was en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it reported a navigation system problem at 9:18 p.m. local time, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. "K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC," Pakistan's Airports Authority said in a statement.
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that radar data showed the aircraft descending rapidly and making a sudden change in direction at approximately 9:21 p.m., before both radar and radio contact were lost 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the plane initially losing altitude, then briefly gaining altitude, before plunging dramatically again.
Rapid Descent and Search Operation
The final transmitted data point placed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above sea level, with a vertical rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, according to Reuters. This represents an extraordinarily steep and abnormal rate of descent. Based on tracking data, the plane is believed to have plummeted approximately 35,000 feet in under two minutes.
A large-scale search operation is now underway, with both the navy and air force deployed. The aircraft is one of Boeing's aging 737 models. The 737-400 was originally delivered as a passenger aircraft to Russia's Aeroflot in 1999, before being converted into a freighter in 2012.
Aircraft and Airline Background
It is K2 Airways' only aircraft and began flying with the carrier in 2024. K2 Airways is a private Pakistani cargo carrier based at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Founded in 2017, the airline operates both scheduled and charter freight routes, primarily connecting domestic airports and regional international destinations.
