Aircraft Carrying Malawi Vice-President Goes Missing

An aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima and nine others has reportedly gone missing.

A statement from the President’s office signed by the Secrerary to the President, Colleen Zamba said the missing aircraft was supposed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport, in the country’s north, at10:00 local time (11:00 BST) but was yet to be found.

According to the statement, the Defense Force aircraft “went off the radar” after it left the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning,

The president ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation officials were unable to contact the aircraft.

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After being informed of the incident, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera cancelled his scheduled flight to the Bahamas.

“The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to inform the general public that the Malawi Defense Force Aircraft that left Lilongwe today, Monday 10 June 2024 at 09:17 Hours, carrying the Vice President, the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others, failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport at 10:02.

“All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the Aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far.

“As such, the Commander of the Malawi Defense Force, General Valentino Phiri, has since informed His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the incident and the President has since canceled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft.

“The public will be updated of any developments on the situation as facts are established”.