World3 min(s) read
Published 09:28 10 Jul 2026 GMT
The final words from the pilot of the Boeing cargo plane that disappeared en route to Pakistan have been revealed.
Authorities continue to search for any survivors, as all five crew members are feared dead.
Pakistani authorities had discovered wreckage of a Boeing plane in the Arabian Sea just one day after the aircraft vanished on Tuesday, July 7.
Flight radar data has revealed the extent of the K2 aircraft's nosedive and subsequent crash into the Arabian Sea on Tuesday (July 7).
The aircraft rapidly descended 5,000ft in a matter of seconds before climbing back up, and nosediving into the sea after losing contact with air traffic control off the coast of Pakistan.
The K2 cargo plane was bound for Karachi after departing Sharjah, UAE.
Following an hours-long search on Wednesday, rescue teams discovered debris, though they admitted the main wreckage of the plane would be harder to recover, as it disappeared in an area where the sea was around 9,800ft deep.
The final communication from the pilot before the plane's disappearance was heard, suggesting that he may have been fighting to keep control of the aircraft.
Capt. Muhammad Rizwan Idris said that the PNS Zulfiqar plane was "rolling or floating," which aviation experts believe was him flagging a serious malfunction.
Rolling refers to when an aircraft banks from side to side, and while rolling is usually performed by pilots during maneuvers, an unintended roll could signal technical problems.
This can include structural failure, extreme turbulence, or flight control malfunction, in addition to imbalanced lift and engine complications.
On the other hand, "floating" is a term used in landing scenarios when aircraft hover above the tarmac instead of touching down, which is usually due to excessive speed or the ground effect.
It was reported that the K2 aircraft, which was on a cargo run, reported navigation system problems at 9.18 PM local time, as per the Civil Aviation Authority.
They also detailed that the plane descended sharply, making a sudden change in direction around 9.21 PM, before vanishing from radar and losing radio contact, around 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
K2 Airways has since named the missing crew as Capt. Muhammad Rizwan Idris, First Officer Faisal Jatoi, flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan.
The Pakistan Airports Authority said in an official statement: "K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC."
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NBC News reported that while emergency teams were still searching for the five missing crew members, pilots noticed that something wasn't right before nosediving.
The news outlet said that Pakistani authorities revealed that pilots reported an issue with their navigation system before controllers lost radio contact.
The flight was sitting at 34,000ft before dropping and climbing suddenly, followed by a "very steep descent" until it crashed into the Arabian Sea.
The Boeing aircraft had flown over the Strait of Hormuz, though US sources said there was no indication that this was a hostile act, pointing towards a mechanical failure.
Investigators are still searching for the black boxes to learn more, with the NTSB and FAA working to find out more about the plane's disappearance.
The airline said in a statement: “We continue to pray earnestly for the safety of our colleagues.”
