In a devastating turn of events, Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others were killed in a military plane crash, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday. The plane, which disappeared on Monday, was discovered destroyed with no survivors near a hill.
“I’m deeply saddened, I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a tragedy,” Chakwera stated in his address to the nation.
The aircraft left Lilongwe at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) but could not land at Mzuzu airport as scheduled due to poor visibility. It was then ordered to return to Lilongwe but went off the radar, with no further contact.
President Chakwera confirmed that all passengers were killed on impact, and the military is working to bring their remains back to the capital. Despite the plane’s reliable track record and the crew’s experience, the crash has left the nation in mourning.
Chilima, 51, had been seen as a potential candidate in the upcoming presidential election, having recently been cleared of graft allegations. His sudden death marks a significant loss for Malawi.
