A cargo aircraft has gone missing after losing contact with air traffic control while flying over the Arabian Sea near Ormara in Balochistan, prompting authorities to launch an immediate search and rescue operation.
According to aviation sources, the aircraft disappeared approximately 300 nautical miles from Karachi during its flight from Sharjah. The missing aircraft is a 27-year-old Boeing 737 operated by a Pakistani cargo company, and communication with the crew was reportedly lost at 9:32pm.
Flight Tracking Data Shows Sudden Change Before Disappearance
Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft, operating as Flight TA1732, was flying normally at 9:17pm. At that time, it was cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet with a speed of approximately 790 kilometres per hour.
However, the aircraft suddenly made a U-turn before entering a rapid descent. Within the next five minutes, it lost nearly 34,000 feet in altitude, eventually dropping to around 1,100 feet while its speed reduced to 211 kilometres per hour. Shortly afterward, the aircraft disappeared from radar.
Crew Reported Navigation Issue Before Losing Contact
Authorities said the crew reported a navigation issue while flying along Route G216, approximately 150 miles south of Karachi. After requesting a heading from air traffic controllers, the crew was instructed to maintain its existing course.
At the same time, radar data showed the aircraft turning to the right while continuing to lose altitude. Air traffic controllers repeatedly attempted to contact the crew. However, they did not receive any further response.
According to officials, the aircraft was last detected on radar at 9:21pm at a position nearly 155 miles west of Karachi before vanishing from tracking systems.
Search and Rescue Operation Underway
Following the loss of contact, authorities immediately launched a search and rescue operation to locate the missing aircraft.
Relevant agencies are participating in the operation while investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s disappearance. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the incident, and the search operation remains in progress.
Pakistan Has Witnessed Similar Cargo Aircraft Accident
The latest incident recalls a previous cargo aircraft tragedy in Karachi.
In 2010, a Russian cargo aircraft carrying eight people crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Karachi Airport. The aircraft was heading to Khartoum, Sudan, when it went down, killing everyone on board.
The crash also sparked fires in nearby buildings and triggered a large-scale rescue operation after the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control only minutes after departure.
