KARACHI: Authorities have launched a search operation for a K2 Airways cargo Boeing 737 after the aircraft failed to land in Karachi as scheduled following a flight from Sharjah, with early tracking data pointing to a sudden loss of altitude before the plane disappeared from radar.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was identified as AP-BOI operating as flight KTA1732, and the last ADS-B return was received at 16:21 UTC when it was at 1,100 feet above mean sea level with a reported vertical rate of -22,400 feet per minute. The flight-tracking service said the aircraft first lost altitude, then climbed, before entering a second steep descent.

Reports citing the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), reported that the aircraft lost contact around 9:32pm while flying from Sharjah to Karachi. The PAA said the cargo plane was approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi when it went missing, and that the aircraft had reported a navigation-system malfunction while airborne.

Reports also said five crew members were on board, naming the captain, first officer, load master and two aircraft engineers from the flight documents filed before departure. The PAA has activated its Rescue Coordination Centre to coordinate the response and search effort.

Flightradar24 identified the aircraft as AP-BOI, a Boeing 737-4M0(BDSF), and said it had entered service with K2 Airways in 2024 after earlier flying as a passenger aircraft before conversion to a freighter.

The incident remains a developing story. At this stage, the available reports confirm a loss of contact and an active search operation, but do not yet confirm the aircraft’s final fate.