Explorer

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima, 9 Others Killed In Plane Crash, Prez Lazarus Chakwera Confirms

Malawi's Vice President, Saulos Chilima, and nine others have died in a plane crash in the northern region of the country. The wreckage was located after an extensive search with no survivors found.

 Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others were tragically killed in a plane crash, President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed on Tuesday. The military aircraft carrying Chilima, 51, disappeared on Monday after it failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to bad weather and was instructed to return to the capital, Lilongwe. The wreckage was discovered in a mountainous area in the north of the country after an exhaustive search lasting over a day. There were no survivors, news agency AFP reported. Malawi President Chakwera made the confirmation during a live address on state television.

Chakwera made the solemn announcement during a live address on state television, expressing the nation's grief. "Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is," he said, describing the accident as a "terrible tragedy", as quoted by AFP.

ALSO READ | Odisha Begins Search For New Official Residence for Incoming Chief Minister. Here's Why

Malawi Vice President's Plane Went Missing

 The BBC had earlier reported that the aircraft, which was carrying Vice President Chilima and nine others, had gone missing. The plane reportedly "went off the radar" after departing from Lilongwe on Monday morning. It was scheduled to land at Mzuzu International Airport, located in the north, shortly after 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).

According to AFP, the search and rescue team found the aircraft "completely destroyed with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact." Photographs shared with AFP by a member of the military rescue team showed army personnel standing on a foggy slope near debris bearing the registration number of the Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K aircraft. Rescuers had been combing a fog-cloaked forest south of Mzuzu on Tuesday after authorities located the last tower it transmitted to before the plane disappeared.

Earlier, army commander General Paul Valentino Phiri mentioned that neighbouring countries had been aiding the search effort, providing helicopters and drones. The group departed just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) from Lilongwe on Monday to attend the funeral of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who had passed away three days prior. Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on board.

In a speech late on Monday, President Chakwera detailed the efforts of the search operation. "Soldiers are still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found," he stated, adding that it was a "heart-breaking situation."

According to AFP, Chakwera also shared his personal connection to the ill-fated aircraft. "I had previously flown on the same aircraft for similar trips. The crew had successfully operated it just hours before the accident," he said. "And yet, despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down."

Chilima, first elected in 2014, was a charismatic and widely loved figure in Malawi, particularly among young people. However, his career faced significant challenges. In 2022, during his second stint as vice president, he was arrested and charged with graft over a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman. The charges were dropped last month without explanation, and Chilima resumed his official duties.

"Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction and a formidable vice president," Chakwera said. "I consider it one of the greatest honours of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years."

View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Phil Salt
₹11.50 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.50 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.50 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Bangladesh: 1 Dead, 10 Injured As Clash Breaks Out In Chattogram Court Area After Chinmoy Das’s Arrest
Bangladesh: 1 Dead, 10 Injured As Clash Breaks Out In Chattogram Court Area After Chinmoy Das’s Arrest
‘Tried To Be Within Maryaada, Didn’t Do Any Encroachment’: PM Modi Quips At Supreme Court Constitution Day Event
‘Tried To Be Within Maryaada, Didn’t Do Any Encroachment’: PM Modi Quips At Constitution Day Event
Shiv Sena Leaders Met Ajit Pawar's NCP Faction To Seek Support For Eknath Shinde For CM's Chair
Shiv Sena Leaders Met Ajit Pawar's NCP Faction To Seek Support For Eknath Shinde For CM's Chair
'EVMs Tampered When They Lose Not When They Win': SC On Politicians Questioning EVMs
'EVMs Tampered When They Lose Not When They Win': SC On Politicians Questioning EVMs
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

FIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman, Statement Released Amidst ControversyFIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman and Local MLA's Son in Controversial CaseSambhal Violence Sparks Political Firestorm, Congress MP Imran Masood's Strong Remarks | ABP NewsBreaking News: SP Leader Ram Gopal Yadav Reacts to Sambhal Violence | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget