Malawian authorities have discovered the wreckage of a plane that was carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima, a military source revealed on Tuesday, following its disappearance in adverse weather conditions a day earlier.
The military aircraft, transporting Chilima, 51, and nine others, vanished on Monday after encountering difficulties landing in the northern city of Mzuzu due to poor visibility. It was instructed to return to the capital, Lilongwe. Unfortunately, there were no survivors found at the crash site.
Photographs shared with AFP by a member of the military rescue team depicted army personnel standing amidst debris marked with the registration number of the Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K aircraft on a foggy slope.
President Lazarus Chakwera was scheduled to address the nation, but it remained uncertain whether there were any survivors.
Rescue teams had been scouring a mist-covered forest south of Mzuzu on Tuesday, after authorities pinpointed the last transmission tower the plane communicated with before disappearing.
Earlier, army commander General Paul Valentino Phiri noted that other nations, including Malawi’s neighbors, had contributed to the search operation, offering assistance such as helicopters and drones.
The group had departed Lilongwe shortly after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) on Monday to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister approximately 370 kilometers (230 miles) away in Mzuzu.
Former Malawian first lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also among the passengers.
First elected as vice president in 2014, Chilima is known for his charisma and firm demeanor, making him a highly esteemed figure in Malawi, particularly among the youth.
