Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, has confirmed the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other passengers in a plane crash.
During a press conference on Tuesday, President Chakwera announced that the aircraft carrying his deputy went missing after failing to land at Mzuzu International Airport, located approximately 380 km (240 miles) north of the capital, Lilongwe.
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The wreckage of the plane has since been found.
“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.
The incident was reported by DAILY POST, stating that the plane carrying Chilima and nine others disappeared from radar on Monday and reportedly crash-landed in Chikangawa Forest.
A statement from the President’s office revealed that the Malawi Defense Force aircraft “went off the radar” after departing from Lilongwe on Monday morning.
The President ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation officials were unable to make contact with the aircraft.
The plane was scheduled to land at Mzuzu International Airport just after 10:00 local time (11:00 BST).
