11th June, 2024
Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other people have been confirmed dead in a plane crash which occurred on Monday.
PM NEWS reports that the plane went missing on Monday which led to serious searches lasting throughout the night before it was discovered that the plane crashed with all occupants found dead.
The small military plane conveying Chilima and others was travelling in a bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country.
President Lazarus Chakwera announced the death of the vice president and nine others in an address on Tuesday.
He said the wreckage of the plane had been located and that there was no survivor, saying that the crashed plane was found near a hill with the plane “completely destroyed” and everyone onboard killed on impact.
The AP quoted the president as saying that he had been informed by the head of Malawi’s armed forces that the plane had been found and that he was deeply saddened and sorry to inform the country that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy.
According to Chakwera, words could not describe how heartbreaking this was, saying he could only imagine how much pain and anguish Malawians must must be feeling at this time, “as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss.”
The president added that former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the plane, saying there were seven passengers and three military crew members onboard.