Malawi has sought assistance from neighboring countries as well as the governments of the United States, Britain, Norway, and Israel to support the rescue mission.
Digital Desk: The president of Malawi announced late on Monday that search and rescue operations will persist until the missing aircraft carrying the country's vice president, Saulos Klaus Chilima, is located. Chilima, aged 51, was among nine others on board a military aircraft departing from Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT), according to a previous statement from Malawi's Office of the President and Cabinet.
Efforts by aviation authorities to establish contact with the aircraft following its disappearance from radar have been unsuccessful. The plane was expected to arrive at Mzuzu Airport by 10:02 a.m. However, due to poor visibility, it was unable to land and was instructed to return to the capital, as stated by President Lazarus Chakwera in a televised address to the nation.
Expressing optimism about finding survivors, President Chakwera emphasized that search efforts are concentrated within a 10 km (6 mile) radius in a forest reserve. He asserted that the operation will continue until the aircraft is located.
Malawi has sought assistance from neighboring countries as well as the governments of the United States, Britain, Norway, and Israel to support the rescue mission.
Chilima, viewed as a potential candidate in the upcoming presidential election, faced arrest in 2022 on corruption charges. However, the corruption allegations against him were dropped by a Malawi court last month following a request from the director of public prosecutions to dismiss the case. Chilima maintains his innocence regarding any wrongdoing.
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