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K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter lost over Arabian Sea after sudden altitude drops near Karachi
K2 Airways Cargo Flight KTA1732 from Sharjah to Karachi disappeared following rapid altitude changes and reported navigation issues, prompting ongoing search operations over the Arabian Sea.
The gist
A K2 Airways 737 freighter vanished after sharp altitude losses and navigation system problems en route to Karachi; search continues.
A Boeing 737 freighter operated by K2 Airways went missing over the Arabian Sea after tracking data showed a dramatic loss of altitude southwest of Karachi, Pakistan. The aircraft, registered AP-BOI, was flying as K2 Airways Cargo Flight KTA1732 from Sharjah, UAE, to Karachi on July 7, 2026. Authorities launched a search and rescue operation after the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination as scheduled and lost radar contact.
Preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data captured by Flightradar24 revealed a sudden descent followed by a brief climb, then a second steep altitude drop before the aircraft vanished from radar. The last recorded ADS-B point placed the aircraft at 1,100 feet above mean sea level with an alarming vertical descent rate of 22,400 feet per minute around 16:21 UTC.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the crew reported a navigation system malfunction at approximately 21:18 local time. Shortly after, radar data showed the aircraft descending rapidly while executing a sharp heading change around 21:21. Both radar and radio contact were lost roughly 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, where search efforts immediately commenced.
The missing aircraft carried five crew members aboard. AP-BOI, a Boeing 737-4M0(BDSF), entered service with K2 Airways in 2024 after a varied operational history. Originally delivered to Aeroflot as a passenger jet in 1999, it was later leased to Garuda Indonesia before being converted into a freighter in 2012.
K2 Airways is a Karachi-based airline established to serve regional passenger and cargo markets with its sole aircraft, AP-BOI. The carrier was awarded its air operator certificate in 2024. This incident marks a major crisis for the young operator, whose entire fleet consists of this converted 737 freighter.
Following takeoff from Sharjah, the freighter and nearby air traffic encountered GNSS interference disrupting satellite navigation data, degrading tracking information in that airspace. Once clear of the interference zone, multilateration and ADS-B tracking resumed, giving valuable insights into the flight’s final minutes.
The loss of AP-BOI follows reports of significant navigation problems indicated by the crew near Karachi, an area that challenges avionics when faced with external interference. The rapid altitude fluctuations combined with a sharp course alteration suggest the crew was attempting to manage a critical in-flight emergency.
Search operations are ongoing in the Arabian Sea where the aircraft last transmitted data. Authorities and rescue teams are investigating all available radar, radio transmissions, and satellite data to determine the events that caused this tragic disappearance and locate any possible wreckage.
This incident underscores vulnerabilities in navigation systems under GNSS interference conditions, highlighting the operational challenges faced by airlines operating aging converted freighters in complex regional environments. The outcome of the investigation will have implications for regional airspace safety and K2 Airways’ operational future.
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Search teams have recovered wreckage from a K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter that disappeared over the Arabian Sea while flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi, Pakistan. The Pakistan Airports Authority said the wreckage was found 53 nautical miles south of Ormara after a 12-hour search and rescue operation involving the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency. The five crew members on board remained missing. K2 Airways said the aircraft was operating from Sharjah International Airport to Jinnah International Airport when it lost contact with air traffic control at about 21:21 local time on July 7, 2026. The airline identified the aircraft as a Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration AP-BOI. According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the crew reported a navigation system issue at about 21:18 local time while en route to Karachi. About three minutes later, radar showed the aircraft rapidly descending and making a sharp heading change. Radar and radio contact were then lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. The Pakistan Airports Authority activated a rescue coordination center and launched a multi-agency search at sea. K2 Airways said five people were on board: the captain, first officer, load master and two engineers. The airline said it was working with Pakistan's aviation authorities and other government agencies as the search continued. "We continue to pray earnestly for the safety of our colleagues," K2 Airways said in a statement. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to use all available resources in the search and rescue effort, according to Pakistani government statements. Search crews have recovered debris from the aircraft, but authorities have not announced the recovery of any of the main wreckage or the flight recorders. The water near the suspected crash area is about 3,000 meters deep, and officials have cautioned that floating debris may not mark the exact impact location because currents, wind and waves can move wreckage after a crash. The cause of the crash has not been determined. Flight-tracking data reviewed after the aircraft disappeared showed large altitude changes before the final loss of contact. The aircraft was a 27-year-old Boeing 737-400 converted to freighter duty. The 737-400 is part of Boeing's classic 737 family and is two generations older than the 737 MAX. K2 Airways is a Karachi-based private cargo airline. The aircraft involved in the crash was reported to be the carrier's only aircraft.
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