Pakistani rescuers search second day for missing cargo plane crew
6 reported2 unconfirmed
Pakistan Navy search and rescue teams are battling rough seas as the search for the five-member crew of a cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea entered its second day Thursday. The aircraft, operated by private carrier K2 Airways, reported a navigation system malfunction before losing radio and radar contact late Tuesday, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority. Wreckage was recovered Wednesday, but no sign of the missing crew members has been found. The search area is nearly 300 kilometers southwest of Karachi, where the plane disappeared from radar while approaching from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the main fuselage and the five crew members remain missing, and the search is being complicated by rough seas, strong winds, and shifting ocean currents. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
What’s reported
The cargo plane was operated by private carrier K2 Airways.
The aircraft reported a malfunction in its navigation system before losing radio and radar contact late Tuesday.
Wreckage was recovered Wednesday about 100 kilometers off Ormara, a coastal town in Balochistan province.
The five crew members remain missing: Capt. Muhammad Rizwan Idris, First Officer Faisal Jatoi, flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to use all available resources in the search.
Radar data indicated the aircraft made a sharp change in heading and rapidly descended before contact was lost at about 9:21 p.m. Tuesday, about 287 kilometers west of Karachi.
Open questions
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The location of the main fuselage and the missing crew members is unknown.
Key figures
Capt. Muhammad Rizwan Idris (missing crew member)
First Officer Faisal Jatoi (missing crew member)
Muhammad Hamid (missing flight engineer)
Muhammad Arif Siddiqui (missing flight engineer)
Muhammad Taufiq Khan (missing aircraft loader)
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Retired Rear Adm. Faisal Shah (quoted on search challenges)
Two anonymous officials familiar with search operations
Sources: abcnews.com
