A Boeing 737 cargo plane carrying five people plunged into the ocean while en route to Karachi. Now, new details about the accident are emerging, including what the pilot reportedly said in the final moments before the crash.

According to Pakistan’s Airport Authority, the aircraft had departed from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and was headed to Karachi when the crew reported technical difficulties. Just three minutes later, officials said radar detected a “sudden and dramatic loss of altitude” before all contact with the aircraft was lost.

“K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight en route from Sharjah to Karachi reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC,” Pakistan’s Airport Authority said in a statement.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft initially dropping roughly 5,000 feet in less than a minute before entering a catastrophic dive from 36,550 feet while traveling at a reported speed of 240 mph.

Authorities searched the waters for around 12 hours before locating the wreckage, with large sections of the aircraft recovered from the sea. However, officials said the main fuselage has still not been found.

As investigators continue working to determine what caused the crash, the pilot’s final reported words have now come to light.

Boeing plane plunges 5,000 feet into ocean
The reported final transmission from the pilot suggests he was struggling to control the aircraft. According to reports, he described the plane as “rolling or floating,” something experts have suggested could indicate a serious problem with the aircraft’s flight system, according to the Daily Star.

Pilots use the term “rolling” to describe an aircraft rocking from one side to the other. While this movement is a normal part of making turns, an unexpected roll can point to a serious issue, including problems with the flight controls, structural damage, severe turbulence, or an engine or lift imbalance, according to Lincolnshire Live.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, radar showed the aircraft suddenly losing altitude before making a sharp turn at around 9:21 p.m. Contact with the plane was then lost, both by radar and radio, about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.

The five crew members on board – Mohammad Rizwan Idrees (Pilot in Command), Faisal Mehmood (First Officer), Muhammad Toufique Khan (Load Master), Arif Siddiqui (Engineer), and Mohammad Hamid (Engineer) – remain missing as search efforts and the investigation continue.