Intensive Search Underway After Malawian VP's Plane Goes Missing in Mountains

Soldiers are scouring mountainous forests in northern Malawi after a military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima, a former first lady, and others went missing. Bad weather forced air traffic control to instruct the plane to turn around, but it vanished shortly after losing contact.

Soldiers are rigorously scouring the mountainous forests near a northern city in Malawi after a military plane carrying the Vice President and a former first lady went missing, President Lazarus Chakwera announced.

The aircraft, carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and eight others, departed from Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. and was expected to reach Mzuzu International Airport within 45 minutes. Due to adverse weather conditions, air traffic control instructed the plane to turn back, but contact was lost shortly afterward, Chakwera revealed during a televised address on state TV channel MBC.

In a statement, Chakwera expressed the gravity of the situation. "I know this is a heartbreaking situation. I know we are all frightened and concerned. I too am concerned," he said. The President assured the nation that every possible resource is being deployed for the search and rescue mission, emphasizing hope for finding survivors.

The president detailed that the search, focused on a 10-kilometer radius within the pine-rich Viphya mountain range, would continue throughout the night. Chakwera thanked the US, UK, Norway, and Israel for offering technology to assist in the search.

Among the passengers was Shanil Dzimbiri, ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, on their way to a former minister's funeral. The president urged citizens to pray for all onboard and their families.

Chilima, vice president since 2020, was a 2019 presidential candidate and later Chakwera's successful running mate in 2020's historic election rerun. He recently faced corruption charges, which had been dropped, but ruled out allegations.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)