BREAKING: Malawi VP's Plane Found with No Survivors, Details Emerge

BREAKING: Malawi VP's Plane Found with No Survivors, Details Emerge

  • Malawian vice-president, Saulos Chilima, and nine others have been confirmed dead in a tragic plane crash
  • President Lazarus Chakwera broke the sad news to Malawians in a news briefing on Tuesday, June 11
  • Chakwera said the missing plane that carried Chilima and nine others has been found with no survivors

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

Malawi, Lilongwe - Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, said the wreck of a plane carrying his vice-president, Saulos Chilima, has been found with no survivors.

Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search and rescue operation had been completed and the plane was found.

Malawi VP's Plane Found With No Survivors
President Chakwera said he was "deeply saddened and sorry" to inform Malawians of the tragedy. Photo credit: Amos Gumulira / AFP
Source: Getty Images

He disclosed this in a news briefing on Tuesday, June 11, BBC reports.

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Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.

Chakwera said he was "deeply saddened and sorry" to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy.

According to Chakwera, the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.

As reported by CNN, he said: “Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is.”

“The search and rescue operation I ordered to find the missing plane that carried our vice president and nine others has been completed. The plane has been found. And I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy.”

It was gathered that 51-year-old Chilima was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former minister, Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.

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Former First Lady, Shanil Dzimbiri, was also on the flight.

The plane took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning but was turned back because of poor visibility at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu.

Plane carrying Malawi's vice president, 9 others missing

Legit. ng earlier reported that Chilima went missing alongside nine others in a military aircraft.

President Lazarus Chakwera said the government had reached out to neighbouring countries, including Britain, the U.S., Norway and Israel, for assistance in the rescue mission.

Chilima was said to be a potential candidate for the 2025 presidential election in the country and was recently charged with corruption.

Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at Legit.ng

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a journalist with over 5 years of working experience in the media. He has worked with PM News, The Sun and Within Nigeria before joining Legit.ng as a Politics/Current Affairs Editor. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University (LASU). He can be reached via adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng.

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