Debris from a Boeing 737 cargo aircraft has been recovered from the Arabian Sea after a devastating crash which appears to have claimed the lives of everyone on board.
Pakistani naval teams located wreckage roughly 12 hours after launching their search operation.
The cargo plane had plummeted 5,000 feet within seconds before disappearing from radar screens on Tuesday.
Photographs captured rescue workers hauling substantial sections of the aircraft's fuselage from the water.
Authorities confirmed that challenging sea conditions were hampering recovery efforts.
The search for the primary wreckage continues, though officials warned that finding the main body of the aircraft will likely be extremely difficult.
The crash site lies in waters reaching depths of around 9,800 feet - which requires highly specialised equipment to reach.
K2 Airways has identified the crew of five aboard the doomed flight as captain Muhammad Rizwan Idris, first officer Faisal Jatoi, flight engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and aircraft loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan.
Photographs captured rescue workers hauling substantial sections of the aircraft's fuselage from the water
|REUTERS
"We continue to pray earnestly for the safety of our colleagues," the airline said in a statement.
Tracking information from Flightradar24 revealed the aircraft's terrifying final moments, with the Boeing 737 plummeting by thousands of feet in fewer than 60 seconds.
A subsequent catastrophic descent saw the plane fall from 36,550 feet at 240mph.
Data also indicated the jet's barometric altitude plunged sharply whilst the aircraft appeared stationary on mapping displays.
The flight had left Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates for Karachi in Pakistan.
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The Boeing 737 plummeting around 5,000ft in under 60 seconds, according to flight tracking data
|REUTERS
In a disturbing final radio transmission, the pilot reported that the aircraft was "rolling or floating".
Rolling describes a standard flight manoeuvre, whereas floating typically indicates a landing error.
Navigation system problems emerged minutes prior to the aircraft's descent.
Pakistan's Airport Authority confirmed: "K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC."
Radar operators detected a sudden and severe altitude loss three minutes later, after which all contact ceased.
K2 Airways confirmed it was cooperating fully with Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority
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The final data transmission placed the aircraft 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, above the Arabian Sea.
Aviation expert Imran Aslam told ARY News: "I still cannot understand how the plane went down so abruptly instead of gliding."
The specialist noted that such a rapid descent does not correspond with typical engine failure patterns.
The Boeing 737 represented the cargo airline's sole aircraft, and had only entered service in 2024.
K2 Airways confirmed it was cooperating fully with Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority and other Government bodies.