Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Saulos Chilima, was tragically killed in a plane crash along with nine others in the Chikangawa mountain range. President Lazarus Chakwera declared a national day of mourning in response to the tragic incident.
The Office of the President and Cabinet released a statement confirming that all passengers on board perished in the crash. The aircraft, a small military plane, went down Monday morning after taking off from the capital, Lilongwe. The wreckage was discovered following an extensive search in the forested mountains of northern Malawi.
Vice President Chilima, 51, and his fellow passengers were en route to a funeral for the country’s former attorney general. The plane lost radar contact after being unable to land at Mzuzu Airport due to poor visibility. Air traffic controllers had advised the pilot to return to Lilongwe, but the flight disappeared shortly thereafter.
President Chakwera addressed the nation, identifying the victims as seven military officers and two other passengers. According to the Associated Press, the aircraft was a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane delivered to the Malawian army in 1988.
In a national address, President Chakwera expressed his condolences and vowed that search and rescue operations would continue until the plane was located. “I know this is a heartbreaking situation,” he said. “We are all frightened and concerned.” This tragedy marks a significant loss for Malawi.
