Key Takeaways
- The co-pilot Faisal Jatoi and four others are missing after their cargo plane crashed into the Arabian Sea.
- Rescuers found the wreckage on Wednesday, 53 nautical miles south of Ormara port.
- Recovery efforts face challenges due to deep waters and strong currents.
The families of five crew members aboard a cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea are facing an agonising wait for news. The co-pilot, Faisal Jatoi, along with two engineers and one support staffer, were on board when their K2 Airways Boeing 737 freighter went down off Pakistan’s southern coast on Tuesday night.
Ghulam Nabi Bahrani, the father-in-law of Faisal Jatoi, described the moment they could not reach him as 'doomsday' for his family. Speaking to Reuters at their home in Karachi, he said: ‘That moment felt like doomsday for us.’ Jatoi has a wife and a two-year-old son.
The aircraft had been in Sharjah for 10 days after delivering cargo, awaiting a spare part from the United States before returning to Pakistan. It reported a navigational problem at 9:18 pm on its way to Karachi, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority. Flightradar24 data showed erratic altitude changes before a steep descent.
On Wednesday, wreckage was found 53 nautical miles south of Ormara port. Navy and maritime security teams are now searching for flight recorders that could provide crucial information about the crash. K2 Airways has confirmed the status of the five people on board but has not officially declared them missing or deceased.
Aviation experts warn that recovery efforts will be challenging due to deep waters in parts of the Arabian Sea, ranging from 2,500 to more than 3,500 metres. Strong currents, poor visibility, uneven seabed terrain and changing sea states could complicate the search for submerged wreckage and flight recorders.
The families are left with little information as rescuers continue their search. The uncertainty is compounded by the difficulty of recovery operations in such deep waters. Until more details emerge, the families remain hopeful but anxious about the fate of their loved ones.
That moment felt like doomsday for us.
Ghulam Nabi Bahrani, Father-in-law of Faisal Jatoi
