GPS glitch forces Emirates flight into emergency landing at Karachi

An Emirates Airlines flight narrowly avoided a major accident after facing GPS issues while entering Karachi’s airspace, according to media reports.

The flight, EK-606, was preparing to land when the disturbance occurred at an altitude of 3000 feet, creating concern for the crew. According to aviation authorities, the sudden loss of navigation signals could have caused serious risks, but the pilot immediately informed Karachi’s air traffic control (ATC). The controllers reacted swiftly, providing manual guidance to the aircraft to ensure its safe descent. The quick coordination between the pilot and ATC helped the plane make an emergency landing without any casualties or damage. Passengers and crew were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Officials said the flight crew handled the situation with professionalism, while ATC officers followed emergency protocols to manage the unexpected disruption. The prompt response highlighted the importance of human control in aviation, especially when technical systems fail. Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the GPS interference. Authorities are assessing whether the disturbance was due to technical malfunction, environmental factors, or possible external interference. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ordered a detailed inquiry and asked for recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Experts noted that GPS disturbances are rare but can pose significant challenges for aircraft navigation. They added that manual guidance from ATC remains a reliable backup system in such cases. The incident has raised questions about aviation safety measures and the need for updated monitoring systems to detect and counter such disruptions. Authorities assured that flight operations at Jinnah International Airport are running smoothly and that passenger safety remains their top priority.