A military aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima, has been reported missing after failing to make a scheduled landing this morning, according to a government statement.
The plane, which departed just after 9:00 am local time (0700 GMT), was carrying the 51-year-old vice president and nine other individuals.
“All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far,” the government stated.
In response to the missing aircraft, President Lazarus Chakwera ordered immediate search and rescue operations, mobilising regional and national forces to locate the plane.
President Chakwera, who was scheduled to travel to the Bahamas for a working visit, has cancelled his trip to oversee the emergency response.
The incident comes after a tumultuous period for Vice President Chilima. In 2022, he was stripped of his powers after being arrested and charged with graft in connection with a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman.
Last month, the charges against Chilima were dropped following multiple court appearances.
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