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Every story in sixty words

Explained in plain English

What is an engine failure?

An engine failure means one or more of a plane's engines stop working, often leading to a loss of power and altitude. For the K2 Airways cargo plane, if an engine failed, it could explain the 'swift descent' near Karachi, as pilots would struggle to maintain height and speed.

Stories that explain this

Cargo plane with five crew missing near Karachi

Questions this opens up

Can a plane fly with one engine? What causes engines to fail? How do pilots react to failure?

Related explainers

What is air traffic control? What is a cargo plane? What causes a plane to descend quickly? Why are search-and-rescue operations complex? What is a swift descent? Why do boat engines catch fire? Why are engines so key? What are F1 engine rules?

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