The pilot’s final communication aboard a Boeing 737 that vanished over the Arabian Sea has been revealed as search efforts intensify to locate the missing individuals following the discovery of the aircraft wreckage at sea.
Air traffic control lost contact with the cargo plane, suspected to have five occupants, on Tuesday before it rapidly descended off the coast of Pakistan.
According to reports, the last message from the pilot suggested a struggle to maintain control of the aircraft, describing the PNS Zulfiqar as “rolling or floating,” indicating a potential critical issue with the flight system.
In aviation terminology, “rolling” refers to lateral tilting of the aircraft. While intentional rolls are common during maneuvers, an unexpected roll can signal serious problems such as flight control failure or turbulence.
“Floating” is typically associated with landing, where the aircraft remains airborne rather than touching down due to factors like excessive speed or ground effect.
The Boeing 737, operated by K2 Airways based in Karachi, reported a navigation system fault during a cargo flight from Sharjah to Karachi, prompting guidance from air traffic control.
Radar data indicated the plane rapidly descended and made a sudden directional change before losing all communication west of Karachi.
Flight tracking data showed erratic altitude changes, with the final transmission indicating a steep descent rate, a significant anomaly.
The aircraft reportedly descended around 35,000 feet in less than two minutes, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation for the crew.
The jet is part of Boeing’s 737 fleet, initially serving as a passenger aircraft before conversion to a cargo carrier in 2012 for K2 Airways, the sole aircraft in their fleet since 2024.
K2 Airways, a Pakistani freight carrier founded in 2017, operates scheduled and charter cargo services connecting domestic and international destinations.