By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has confirmed that a privately operated cargo aircraft crashed after losing contact during a flight from Sharjah to Karachi.
According to a PAA spokesperson, the crew reported a failure in the aircraft’s navigation system while in flight. Karachi Area Control Centre (ACC) immediately provided guidance and assistance in an effort to support the aircraft.
Officials said the aircraft then began a rapid descent and unexpectedly changed course before disappearing from radar around 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. Radar and radio communication with the plane were lost simultaneously.
Following the incident, the Rescue Coordination Centre was activated without delay, and a search and rescue operation was launched in the Arabian Sea to locate the missing aircraft.
The PAA said multiple agencies are taking part in the ongoing search effort. The cargo aircraft was carrying five crew members at the time of the crash.
