A Malawi Defense Force aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others has gone missing, according to a statement from the country’s presidency.
The incident has prompted a significant search and rescue operation.
Secretary to the president and cabinet, Colleen Zamba, stated that the aircraft, which departed from the capital Lilongwe at 9:17 am, failed to land as scheduled at Mzuzu International Airport at 10:02 am. Efforts by aviation authorities to establish contact with the plane have thus far been unsuccessful.
“The Commander of the Malawi Defence Forces, Gen Valentino Phiri, has informed His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of the incident, and the president has since canceled his planned departure for the Bahamas,” Zamba said.
President Chakwera has ordered all regional and national agencies to initiate an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the missing aircraft.
“The public will be updated on any developments regarding the situation as facts are established,” Zamba added.
The sudden disappearance of the aircraft has raised concerns, and authorities are working tirelessly to find Vice President Chilima and the others on board. The nation waits anxiously for any news regarding their whereabouts.
