Rescuers scoured the waters around the presumed crash site of a Boeing cargo plane, hours after it lost contact with air traffic control on its way to Karachi with five crew members on board, authorities said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to speed up search and rescue operations for the converted freighter, which went missing in the Arabian Sea after reporting a navigational system problem.
K2 Airways, the plane’s operator, said the crew comprised two pilots, two engineers and one support staffer. Authorities have made no official declaration on their status, although Sharif expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to their families.
The plane may have crashed into the sea southwest of Karachi on Tuesday after a series of sharp altitude changes before a steep final descent, said flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Authorities have launched a coordinated search and rescue operation at sea yesterday through various agencies, Pakistan Airports Authority said. — Reuters
