Malawi Mourns as Vice President Saulos Chilima and Nine Others Die in Plane Crash
Desk Report, June 11, 2024: In a tragic incident that has plunged the nation into mourning, Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others, including his wife, were killed in a plane crash in the Chikangawa mountain range. The announcement was made by President Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday.
“I’m deeply saddened. I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors,” President Chakwera stated.
The aircraft, which was returning to Lilongwe, lost contact with aviation authorities after being ordered to divert from Mzuzu airport due to adverse weather conditions and poor visibility. The plane went missing on Monday and was scheduled to land at Mzuzu airport at 10:02 a.m. However, it was unable to land and subsequently disappeared from radar.
Despite the aircraft’s reputable track record and the experienced crew, the flight ended in disaster. “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 and leaving us all devastated,” President Chakwera said.
Vice President Chilima, 51, was widely regarded as a leading candidate for the presidential elections slated for 2025. His unexpected demise leaves a significant void in the political landscape of Malawi. Chilima was previously embroiled in a graft scandal in 2022, accused of accepting bribes from a businessman in exchange for government contracts. He denied the allegations, and the national prosecutor dropped the charges in May, registering a notice for discontinuation of the case.
The military is currently in the process of recovering the remains of the deceased and bringing them back to the capital. The crash has prompted an outpouring of condolences from around the world, with numerous countries, including the United States, offering technological support to assist Malawi in the search operations.
The loss of Vice President Chilima and the other passengers is a profound tragedy for Malawi, casting a shadow over the nation as it prepares for the upcoming general elections.
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