Pakistani authorities are searching for a cargo aircraft that disappeared off the coast of Karachi with five crew members on board.

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The Boeing 737 lost contact with air traffic controllers at 21:21 local time (16:21 GMT) on Tuesday after rapidly descending, according to Pakistan's airport authority. The aircraft had been flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi.

Officials said the crew had reported a problem with the aircraft's navigation system shortly before contact was lost.

Airline Confirms Crew Details

The aircraft was operated by K2 Airways, a private cargo carrier based in Karachi that was established in 2018.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline identified the five crew members aboard the flight and said it was fully cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies involved in the response.

"We continue to pray, earnestly, for the safety of our colleagues," the airline said.

Search Teams Deployed

Preliminary flight data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft experienced significant changes in altitude before entering a steep descent.

Pakistan's airport authority said the search operation involves multiple agencies, including the navy and air force, as efforts continue to locate the missing aircraft.

Pakistan's Recent Aviation History

The disappearance is the latest serious aviation incident involving Pakistan.

The country's last major aviation accident occurred in 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines passenger jet crashed while approaching Karachi airport. Of the 99 people on board, only two survived.

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8 July 2026

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Again a Boeing...? Used to be a reference but now Boeings are potential flying coffins. Feel safer in a Airbus.

At least it wasn't plane full of passengers .

It could have been worse