The plane’s wreckage was discovered on Tuesday, as reported by Malawi State TV. Img source: CNN
June 12, 2024 Story by: Editor
Malawi – Tuesday, June 13, 2024 – Saulos Chilima, Vice President of Malawi, tragically died in a plane crash along with nine other passengers, as announced by President Lazarus Chakwera.
The aircraft disappeared after it was unable to land at Mzuzu International Airport, located approximately 380 km (240 miles) north of the capital, Lilongwe. President Chakwera, addressing the nation, confirmed the discovery of the wreckage.
“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 stated.
He revealed that the plane was found “completely destroyed” near a hill in the Chikangawa Forest in northern Malawi. “Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is,” he added.
President Chakwera paid tribute to Chilima, describing him as “a good man, a devoted father and husband, (and) a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction.”
“His passing is a terrible loss to his wife, Mary, his family, his friends, his colleagues in the cabinet and to all of us as a nation,” Chakwera expressed, mourning the loss of the other passengers as well.
Highlighting the tragedy, Chakwera mentioned he had previously flown on the same aircraft. “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,” he remarked.
On Monday evening, the president informed journalists that air traffic control had advised the vice president’s plane against landing due to poor visibility and recommended returning to the capital. Shortly after, contact was lost, initiating the search operation.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Malawi Defence Force deployed drones and over 200 soldiers to search the Chikangawa Forest reserve, the last known location of the aircraft’s signals. Force Commander Paul Valentino Phiri stated that rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather.
President Chakwera announced that Chilima and the other victims would be laid to rest “in a dignified manner.” Their remains arrived in the capital on Tuesday evening, received by Chakwera, as shown in live visuals.
A 21-day national mourning period for Chilima and the other officials will commence on June 11 and last until July 1, as stated by the president’s office.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his condolences, saying, “We offer condolences to their families and we stand with the people of Malawi at this sad time.”
Saulos Chilima, 51, had returned to Malawi on June 6 after attending the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul. He served as deputy to former President Peter Mutharika from 2014 to 2019 and was reappointed as vice president in 2020. An economist by profession, Chilima was the first Malawian to head Airtel Malawi, a leading telecommunications company.
President Chakwera reflected, “I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years.”Chilima is survived by his wife Mary and their two children. Source: CNN
