The recent discovery of the wreckage of a Boeing 737 that vanished over the Arabian Sea has unveiled the final communication from the pilot. Search efforts are now intensifying to locate the individuals on board the aircraft after it was found at sea.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the cargo plane, suspected to have had at least five occupants, on Tuesday just before it rapidly descended off the coast of Pakistan. The pilot’s last message suggested he was struggling to control the PNS Zulfiqar, describing it as “rolling or floating,” indicating a potential serious issue with the flight system.
“Rolling” refers to a plane tilting from side to side, usually done intentionally during turns. However, an uncommanded roll could indicate a significant problem such as flight control failure or severe turbulence. “Floating,” commonly associated with landing, occurs when an aircraft remains airborne above the runway, often due to excessive speed or ground effect.
The Boeing 737, operated by K2 Airways based in Karachi, was on a cargo flight from Sharjah to Karachi when it reported a navigational system fault at 9:18 pm local time. Radar data showed the plane rapidly descending with an abrupt change in direction at 9:21 pm, followed by a loss of all communication 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Flight tracking information revealed a drastic descent rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute, with the aircraft dropping approximately 35,000 feet in less than two minutes. An extensive search and rescue operation involving naval and air force personnel is underway to find the crew.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, originally operated as a passenger plane for Russia’s Aeroflot in 1999 before being converted to a cargo carrier in 2012. It is the sole plane of K2 Airways, which began operations in 2024 as a privately-owned Pakistani freight carrier operating from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
Established in 2017, K2 Airways offers scheduled and charter cargo services connecting domestic and international airports. The airline is known for its efficient freight transport services.