KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Wednesday located the wreckage of the missing cargo aircraft approximately 53 nautical miles south of the Ormara coast, more than 12 hours after an extensive search operation began.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed that the wreckage was discovered in the Arabian Sea after the aircraft disappeared from radar late Tuesday night.
What Is the Latest on the Rescue Operation?
According to the PAA, Pakistan Navy and PMSA naval vessels and aircraft remain engaged in search, rescue and recovery operations at the crash site.
Teams are continuing efforts to locate the five crew members and recover evidence to determine the cause of the accident.
What Happened Before the Aircraft Went Missing?
The privately operated cargo aircraft was flying from Sharjah to Karachi when it lost contact with air traffic control at approximately 9:21pm on Tuesday.
Earlier, the PAA said the aircraft disappeared around 155 nautical miles west of Karachi while en route to Pakistan.
Who Were the Crew Members on Board?
The cargo company identified the five missing crew members as:
- Pilot Muhammad Rizwan Idris
- First Officer Faisal Mehmood
- Loadmaster Muhammad Taufiq
- Engineer Arif Siddiqui
- Muhammad Hamid
What Do Flight Tracking Data Reveal?
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft was cruising normally at an altitude of 35,000 feet and a speed of 790 kilometres per hour before suddenly making a U-turn.
Within five minutes, the aircraft lost nearly 34,000 feet in altitude, descending to approximately 1,100 feet while slowing to 211 kilometres per hour, before disappearing from radar.
Air traffic control officials said the pilot did not issue a Mayday distress call, suggesting the emergency may have developed too rapidly for the crew to respond.
Which Agencies Took Part in the Search?
The search operation involved the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, and several merchant vessels operating in the area.
The Pakistan Navy deployed PNS Zulfiqar, while the Pakistan Air Force dispatched a Saab surveillance aircraft to assist in locating the missing aircraft.
What Investigations Are Underway?
Authorities have sealed the cargo company’s office at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, to preserve records as part of the investigation.
Officials are expected to examine recovered wreckage and flight data to determine the cause of the crash once recovery operations are completed.