The Vice President of Malawi confirmed the death in a plane crash

Lilongwe, June 11 (IANS): Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others aboard a military plane were confirmed dead on Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.

President Chakwera announced that the wreckage of the plane carrying the vice president had been found, with no survivors.

Chilima (51) was on her way to the funeral of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, whose body was found in a room in a bungalow in Lilongwe on Friday.

The aircraft did not land at its intended destination at Mzuzu Airport in northern Malawi due to unfavorable weather conditions, so the pilot was advised to return to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before the aircraft disappeared from radar around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). on Monday.

Soldiers searched the Chikangawa forest from night to morning, trying to find the plane.

During a press conference on Tuesday, President Chakwera said the commander of the Malawi Defense Forces had informed him that the search and rescue operation had been completed and the plane had been found. Chakwera said it is with “deep sadness and regret” that he informs Malawians of the terrible tragedy, the BBC reported.

He said the rescue team found the plane completely destroyed.

Chakwera paid tribute to Chilima, describing him as a “good man”, a “dedicated father” and a “powerful vice president”.

“I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to have him as my deputy and advisor,” he told the BBC.