Malawi: Search underway for missing plane carrying veep and 9 others
A military plane carrying Malawi’s Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and nine others has gone missing.
The plane carrying the 51-year old left the capital Lilongwe on Monday, to travel to the north covering a distance of 370 kilometers (230 miles).
But it failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport in 45 minutes.
In a statement, the office of Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said aviation authorities lost contact with the plane when it “went off radar”.
The statement said President Chakwera has ordered a search operation and cancelled a trip to the Bahamas.
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“All efforts to make contact with the aircraft since it went off radar have failed thus far,” the statement said.
Astonishing and scary developments in Malawi where the Vice President @SKChilima’s plane disappeared on radar and a search and rescue operation is now underway according to the Presidency. Tragic this. @mcbrams pic.twitter.com/8DUAQWBBWb
— Maynard Manyowa (@iAmKudaMaynard) June 10, 2024
The reason for the aircraft’s disappearance is not yet known. Malawi’s Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu, told the BBC efforts to find the aircraft are “intensive”.
He has also revealed that Dr. Chilima was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who died three days ago.
In 2022, Dr Chilima was arrested and charged on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts.
Last month, the court dropped the charges, giving no reasons for this decision.
