NAIROBI, KE, Jun 10 – A search and rescue operation was underway for an aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima and nine others, after the plane went missing on Monday morning.
The Malawi Defence Force aircraft “went off the radar” shortly after taking off from the capital, Lilongwe, the president’s office announced. The aircraft was en route to Mzuzu International Airport in the northern part of the country, expected to land just after 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
President Lazarus Chakwera ordered the search and rescue mission after aviation officials were unable to make contact with the plane. Upon learning of the incident, President Chakwera cancelled his scheduled flight to the Bahamas, which was set for Monday evening.
“The public will be updated on any developments as facts are established,” the president’s office said in a statement.
The cause of the aircraft’s disappearance remains unknown. General Valentino Phiri informed President Chakwera that efforts to locate the plane are ongoing. Malawi’s Information Minister, Moses Kunkuyu, told the BBC that the search efforts are “intensive.”
Vice-President Chilima was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who passed away three days ago.
“The airport he was to land at, which is in the northern part of Mzuzu, was the closest to where the funeral was taking place,” Kunkuyu explained.
In 2022, Dr. Chilima was arrested and charged with allegations of accepting money in exchange for awarding government contracts. However, last month, the court dropped the charges without providing reasons for the decision.