The search for an aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other passengers was started by the Malawian authorities. Belonging to the Malawi Defense Force, the aircraft left the city of Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. on Monday but failed to arrive at its intended northern base.
Details Regarding the Disappearance
In a broadcast speech, President Lazarus Chakwera declared that terrible weather-induced low visibility prevented the plane from landing. The pilot was told to turn back, but the aircraft vanished from radar soon after the directive, and contact has not been restored.
Search and rescue campaigns
Using national and local institutions, the Malawian government has launched a search and rescue mission. Rescuers had limited the possible crash site to a six-mile radius by afternoon. Military and police personnel carried on the hunt by vehicle and on foot across the deep forests of northern Malawi, despite the difficult terrain and darkness.
President Chakwera said the search would last until the plane was located. For technological support, the government has also asked Israel, Norway, Britain, and the United States, among other neighbors and international partners.
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Background on Saulos Chilima, Vice President
Ten years ago, 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima moved from a career in telecoms to politics. Late 2022 saw accusations of corruption against him when the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Malawi detained him for allegedly accepting kickbacks in return for government contracts. Chilima refuted the charges, which were later withdrawn, therefore compromising the anti-corruption posture of the government.
Chilima was en route to the funeral of former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara when the plane vanished. In the 2025 elections, he was supposed to seek the position of Malawian president.
Political Chronicle
Once political adversaries, Chilima and President Chakwera united in 2019 following an election marred with anomalies. They effectively contested the outcomes and, on the same ticket, won an election later in 2020.
With the search effort ongoing and Malawi hoping for the safe return of everybody aboard, the disappearance of the aircraft has cast a shadow of doubt and worry over the country.
