KARACHI:A cargo aircraft has gone missing about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi after losing contact with air traffic control, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation involving the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and commercial vessels.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), contact with the aircraft was lost late Tuesday after the crew reported a malfunction in its navigation system. The Area Control Centre immediately provided guidance to the pilots, while the Rescue Coordination Centre was activated to oversee the emergency response.
Sources said the search operation has expanded considerably, with the Pakistan Navy deploying the warships PNS Zulfiqar and PNS Hunain to the search zone. A Pakistan Air Force Saab surveillance aircraft and a Navy ATR aircraft operating from Turbat have also joined the aerial search.
Commercial ships operated by the National Shipping Corporation are assisting military units in scanning the waters for any sign of the missing aircraft or its five crew members.
Flight Data Shows Sudden Turn Before Rapid Descent
Aviation sources identified the missing aircraft as a 27-year-old Boeing 737 operated by a Pakistani cargo company. The aircraft, operating as Flight TA1732, was travelling from Sharjah to Karachi when communication was lost at 9:32 pm.
Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft was cruising normally at 35,000 feet and approximately 790 kilometres per hour at 9:17 pm. Moments later, it unexpectedly made a U-turn before entering a rapid descent.
Within five minutes, the aircraft reportedly dropped nearly 34,000 feet, descending to around 1,100 feet while slowing to about 211 kilometres per hour before disappearing from radar.
An air traffic controller told local media that the pilot did not issue a Mayday distress call, suggesting the emergency may have developed too quickly for the crew to transmit one.
So far, search teams have not located any wreckage or established contact with those on board. Authorities continue to investigate the incident while rescue efforts remain underway.
