Malawi’s President announced that search and rescue efforts will persist until the missing aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima is located. Chilima, aged 51, was among nine other individuals aboard a military plane that departed from Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. local time.
Despite attempts by aviation authorities to establish contact with the aircraft after it disappeared from radar, all efforts have been unsuccessful. The plane was scheduled to land at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 a.m. but was unable to do so due to poor visibility. Consequently, it was directed to return to the capital, as stated by President Lazarus Chakwera in a televised address to the nation.
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Chakwera expressed optimism about finding survivors and revealed that the search area is concentrated within a 10 km radius in a forest reserve. He emphasized that the search operation will persist until the aircraft is located. Malawi has sought assistance from neighboring countries as well as the governments of the United States, Britain, Norway, and Israel to support the rescue efforts.
Chilima, viewed as a potential candidate in the upcoming presidential election, faced corruption allegations in 2022. However, the corruption charges against him were dropped by a Malawian court last month after the director of public prosecutions filed for the case to be discontinued. Chilima has consistently denied any involvement in wrongdoing.
