Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima confirmed dead in an aircraft crash

BLANTYRE, Malawi

Malawi Vice President, Saulos Chilima along with nine others have died in a plane crash, Colleen Zamba, the president's secretary confirmed on Tuesday (June 11).

In a statement, the Zamba said the plane that had gone missing had been found in Chikangawa forest.

"The aircraft which was carrying the Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and nine others was found this morning in Chikangawa forest. Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the plane crash." Read the statement.

Dr. Saulos Chilima

She said the search and rescue operation, which was launched immediately after the aircraft went off the radar, has been conducted by various agencies, including the Malawi defence Force, the Police Service and the department of Civil Aviation.

“His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, has been informed of the tragic outcome and has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the Vice President, and all those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident.” She said.

Zamba said that the president has declared a National Day of Mourning and ordered all flags fly at half-mast from today to the day of the funeral.

The vice president was heading to a funeral of lawyer Ralph Kasambara, but his aircraft failed to land at the airport and turned back. Contact with the plane was lost afterward.

According to verified reports, Chilima took off from the airport in the capital of Lilongwe and headed toward the Mzuzu Airport in the country’s north, before disappearing on the way back.

President Lazarus Chakwera’s office said the plane went missing and the president cancelled trips to the Bahamas and Switzerland.