Photo by Daniel Eledut on Unsplash
The K2 Airways cargo plane missing Arabian Sea incident unfolded on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Flight KTA1732 departed Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates at 15:02 UTC for Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. ADS-B tracking data shows the Boeing 737-400 climbed to 35,000 feet early in the flight.
The crew later reported a navigation system problem and requested heading assistance from air traffic control. Karachi Area Control Center immediately began guiding the aircraft after receiving the distress call.
The Pakistan Airports Authority said the crew reported the navigation issue at 16:18 UTC. Three minutes later, controllers watched the aircraft descend rapidly and change heading. They then lost both radar contact and radio communication. As of Tuesday evening, search crews had not located the aircraft or its five crew members.
What the flight data shows about the final minutes
ADS-B tracking data outlines the aircraft’s unusual final movements. At 16:17 UTC, the jet entered a right-hand turn before beginning a descent of about 5,600 feet.
The aircraft then climbed roughly 7,200 feet. Flight analysts believe the crew may have attempted to recover control. Another descent followed before the aircraft disappeared from radar. Those rapid altitude changes suggest the pilots actively fought a serious in-flight emergency during the final four minutes.
Open-source aviation trackers described the sequence as a right turn, a descent, a brief climb and a final rapid descent into the Arabian Sea near Ormara.
The final radar return placed the aircraft about 155 nautical miles west-southwest of Karachi. Registration AP-BOI identifies the airplane as a Boeing 737-4M0 BDSF cargo aircraft built in 1999 and powered by CFM56-3 engines. Investigators now have a defined area to search.
The aircraft’s history and crew
Tuesday’s aircraft has served multiple operators throughout its career. It previously flew under the registrations N1015B, VP-BAR, PK-GZO, OE-IAT and VP-CFG before K2 Airways registered it as AP-BOI.
Boeing built the aircraft in 1999. Cargo operators across Asia, the Middle East and Africa continue to use converted Boeing 737-400 freighters.
Five crew members were aboard Flight KTA1732. The cargo flight carried no passengers.
Before communications ended, the crew notified dispatch about the navigation problem and requested help from air traffic control. Their actions indicate they followed standard emergency procedures.
Search and rescue operations
Search teams will likely concentrate on the Arabian Sea near Ormara, about 155 nautical miles west-southwest of Karachi. The Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency are expected to lead the operation.
The final radar return gives crews a starting point. However, the Arabian Sea presents difficult conditions for both aircraft and ships. Investigators will also use ADS-B data and radar information to refine the search area.
The Aviation Safety Network listed the event as an accident based on available reports from news outlets, social media and unofficial sources.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority will lead the official investigation under international aviation rules. Boeing and CFM International could also provide technical support because they manufactured the aircraft and its engines.
Investigators expect the inquiry to take several months before determining what caused the navigation problem and the aircraft’s disappearance.
Source: Aviation Safety Network / ASN WikiBase
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