The military aircraft conveying Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others which went missing on Monday, 10 June, 2024 have been found.
All the occupants of the ill-fated aircraft lost their lives
The President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday, 11 June, 2024 confirmed the death of his Vice, Saulos Chilima, adding that his deputy was killed alongside nine other passengers in a plane crash.
Addressing a press conference, the President said the aircraft carrying his deputy went missing after it failed to land at the Mzuzu International Airport, about 380 km (240 miles) to the north of the capital Lilongwe, adding that the plane’s wreckage has been located.
“The search and rescue operation I ordered to find the missing plane that carried our vice president and nine others has been completed.
“The plane has been found. And I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy,” Chakwera said.
Thegazellenews.com had reported that a plane carrying Chilima and nine others disappeared off the radar on Monday, 10 June, 2024
The plane reportedly crash landed in Chikangawa forest.
A statement from the President’s office said the Malawi Defense Force aircraft “went off the radar” after it left the capital, Lilongwe, on the morning of Monday, 10 June, 2024.
The military plane carrying the VP and nine others, including the former First Lady, Shanil Dzimbiri, failed to make a landing on the morning of Monday 10 June, 2024.
The VP and the nine others were to attend the funeral of a prominent Malawian lawyer, former Attorney General and Justice Minister, Ralph Kasambala in Mzuzu.
President Lazarus Chakwera had ordered regional and national forces to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the missing aircraft.
According to BBC, the President ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation officials were unable to contact the aircraft.
It was supposed to land at Mzuzu International Airport, in the country’s north, just after 10:00 local time (11:00 BST)
It was gathered that the Dornier 228 military plane was found in the Chikangawa Forest early hours of Tuesday, 11 June, 2024.
