The aircraft carrying Saulos Chilima, the Vice-President of Malawi, has been discovered in a state of wreckage with no survivors, as announced by President Lazarus Chakwera.
Chilima, along with nine others, were on a domestic flight on Monday morning when their plane vanished from airport radar screens. The aircraft, a military one, was navigating through adverse weather conditions.
A search operation was launched in the Chikangawa Forest by the military in hopes of locating the plane. In a press conference on Tuesday, President Chakwera relayed that the commander of the Malawi Defence Force had informed him that the search and rescue mission had concluded with the discovery of the plane.
Expressing his deep sorrow, President Chakwera regretfully informed the citizens of Malawi about the tragic incident, stating that the rescue team found the aircraft in a state of total destruction.
Despite belonging to different political parties, the President and Vice-President had formed a coalition during the 2020 elections. Dr. Chilima, aged 51, was en route to represent the government at the funeral of Ralph Kasambara, a former government minister who had passed away four days prior.
Also aboard the ill-fated flight was the former First Lady, Shanil Dzimbiri. The flight had departed from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning, intending to land at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu. However, due to poor visibility, the flight was rerouted.
Dr. Chilima, who had held the position of Vice-President since 2014, was a beloved figure in Malawi, especially among the younger generation, as reported by the AFP news agency.
