The President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera has confirmed the death of his Vice, Saulos Chilima and nine others in a plane crash.
The small military plane conveying Chilima and others was travelling in a bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country.
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.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the President said the aircraft carrying his deputy went missing after it failed to land at the Mzuzu International Airport, about 380 km (240 miles) to the north of the capital Lilongwe, adding that the plane’s wreckage has been located.
“The search and rescue operation I ordered to find the missing plane that carried our vice president and nine others has been completed.
“The plane has been found. And I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy,” Chakwera said.
A statement from the President’s office said the Malawi Defense Force aircraft “went off the radar” after it left the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.
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
