An official announcement from the president’s office stated that an aeroplane carrying nine additional people, including Vice President Saulos Chilima of Malawi, has vanished.
It further stated that after departing Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, on Monday, the aircraft of the Malawi Defence Force “went off the radar.”
When aviation officials could not get in contact with the aircraft, the president issued an order for a search and rescue mission.
Just after 10:00 local time (11:00 BST), it was scheduled to touch down at Mzuzu International Airport in the north of the nation.
Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi, postponed his planned trip to the Bahamas after learning about the incident.
Attached below is a copy of the statement from Capital Hill in Lilongwe.
Capital Hill, Lilongwe The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to inform the general public that the Malawi Defence Force aircraft that left Lilongwe today, Monday, 10th June 2024, at 09:17 hours, carrying the Vice President, the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others, failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport at 10:02.
All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far. As such, the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force, General Valentino Phiri, has since informed His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the incident, and the President has since cancelled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft.
The public will be updated on any developments in the situation as facts are established.
Colleen Zamba
Secrecy to the President and Cabinet
Monday, 10th June 2024
