Missing Malawi Aircraft Found With Vice President, 9 Others Dead

The missing Malawi Army Air Wing aircraft with tail number MAF-T03 has been found in a foggy wreckage site at Chikangawa Forest Reserve.

On Monday, June 10, 2024, the Dornier 228-202K took off from Lilongwe-Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) at 09:17 am and was scheduled to land at Mzuzu Airport (ZZU) at 10:02 am, carrying Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima, Shanil Dzimbiri Muluzi, the ex-wife of former President Dr Bakili Muluzi, and eight others onboard.

Lukas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Gloria Mtukule, Dan Kanyemba, Abdul Lapukeni, Colonel Sambalopa, Major Selemani and Major Aidin were others on the plane.

According to the Malawian government, communications with the aircraft ceased around 10:00 am as it approached Mzuzu Airport.

Following the notice of disappearance, the government initiated a search and rescue mission.

I am not sparing any available resource to ensure that the Vice President and the people he was travelling with are found,” says Malawian President Dr Lazarus Chakwera while speaking during a Presidential National Address at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

However, the locals from Chikangawa Forest Reserve reported that they had observed a “crash” in the area.

The search and rescue operations were then directed at the forest, which led to the discovery of the wreckage site in a foggy forest area.

Upon reaching the crash site, a journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, wrote on X in confirmation of the accident that all passengers on board did not survive the crash.

Meanwhile, President Chakwera is expected to address the nation at noon today.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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