Wreckage of missing K2 Airways cargo jet found off Pakistan coast; search for crew continues

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to intensify search and rescue efforts for the 27-year-old converted cargo aircraft, which went missing over the Arabian Sea after reporting a problem with its navigation system.

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K2 Airways, the operator of the aircraft, said the crew consisted of two pilots, two engineers and one support staff member. While authorities have not officially confirmed the status of those on board, Sharif conveyed his "heartfelt condolences" to their families.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the aircraft reported a navigation system malfunction at 9:18 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time (1618 GMT) while flying towards Karachi.

Air traffic controllers attempted to assist the crew, but communication was lost three minutes later after radar data showed the aircraft descending rapidly, the authority said.

At the time contact was lost, the aircraft was approximately 155 nautical miles (287 kilometres) west of Karachi.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated erratic movements in the aircraft's final moments. The plane reportedly dropped around 5,000 feet in less than a minute, then climbed roughly 6,000 feet within 30 seconds before entering a steep and uncontrolled descent from an altitude of 36,550 feet.

The last available transmission placed the aircraft at an altitude of about 1,100 feet above sea level, with a descent rate of minus 22,400 feet per minute — an unusually severe rate equivalent to roughly 400 kilometres per hour.

With inputs from agencies