Shafaqna Pakistan: A Boeing 737 cargo aircraft flying from Sharjah to Karachi has gone missing over the sea near Karachi, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed on Tuesday.
According to official sources, a search and rescue operation was launched immediately after contact with the aircraft was lost. Pakistan Navy warship PNS Zulfiqar has been deployed to the area, while a Pakistan Air Force SAAB aircraft is taking part in the aerial search.
The Pakistan Navy’s ATR aircraft has also departed from Turbat to assist in the operation, and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s commercial vessel Lahore has been dispatched to support the search and rescue efforts.
A PAA spokesperson confirmed that communication with the privately operated cargo aircraft was lost while it was en route from Sharjah to Karachi. Authorities are continuing search operations to locate the missing aircraft.
The PAA spokesperson said that the cargo plane reported a malfunction in the navigation system during the flight.
Karachi ACC provided immediate guidance to the plane. The plane suddenly descended rapidly and also changed direction.
The plane disappeared from radar approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. Radar and communication links with the plane were simultaneously lost.
After the incident, the Rescue Coordination Center was immediately activated, and a search and rescue operation was launched at sea to search for the missing cargo plane.
According to a PAA spokesperson, various agencies are participating in the search and rescue operation. There are five crew members on board the private cargo plane.
Source: Dunya News
