K2 Airways Cargo Plane Disappears Over Arabian Sea, Wreckage Recovered as Search for Five Crew Members Continues

On the evening of July 7, 2026, a Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft operated by Karachi-based private carrier K2 Airways lost contact with air traffic control while approaching Karachi from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The flight, identified as KTA1732, was carrying five crew members and no passengers.

The aircraft departed Sharjah International Airport and was en route to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi when the crew reported a navigational system problem. Radar data showed the plane making a sharp change in heading and descending rapidly. Contact was lost around 9:21 p.m. local time, approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi over the Arabian Sea. Flight-tracking data indicated erratic altitude changes, including an initial descent, a brief climb, and a final steep descent with a vertical rate exceeding 22,000 feet per minute at the last recorded point.

Pakistan’s Airports Authority immediately initiated search and rescue operations. Pakistani Navy vessels, civilian aircraft, and other agencies participated in the effort amid challenging conditions, including rough monsoon seas and a large search area.

Approximately 12 hours later, on July 8, search teams located and recovered wreckage from the Arabian Sea, about 53 nautical miles (roughly 98 km) south of Ormara, a coastal town west of Karachi. The debris was identified as belonging to the missing K2 Airways Boeing 737-400, registration AP-BOI, a 27-year-old converted freighter that was the airline’s sole aircraft.

K2 Airways identified the missing crew members as Captain Muhammad Rizwan Idris, First Officer Faisal Jatoi (also referred to in some reports as Faisal Mehmood), flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan. The airline stated it was fully cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies while expressing prayers for the crew’s safety.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed all available government resources toward the ongoing search for the crew. As of the latest reports, the five individuals remain missing, with difficult sea conditions complicating recovery efforts. No survivors or additional bodies have been confirmed found.

The incident marks a significant event for Pakistan’s aviation sector, coming years after the 2020 Pakistan International Airlines crash in Karachi that resulted in 97 fatalities. K2 Airways, founded in 2018, specializes in domestic and international cargo operations.

Investigators from relevant authorities are expected to examine the recovered wreckage, flight data, and any available recordings to determine the cause. Factors under consideration include the reported navigational issue, potential technical faults, environmental conditions, or other elements such as GPS-related problems, though no official conclusions have been released.

The search and recovery operation continues, with authorities prioritizing efforts to locate the crew and any remaining aircraft components, including potential flight recorders. Families of the crew await further updates as the investigation proceeds.