Mitchell Dzoro
The wreckage of the jet carrying Malawi’s’ vice president Sulos Chilima and nine others has been found, with all passengers confirmed dead
In a statement by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, he said, “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.
Images circulating on social media show debris from Sulos Chilima’s aircraft, which went off the radar as it was expected to make a scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport.
Over 200 soldiers, police officers, and forestry officers were conducting the search, which was hampered by dense fog and challenging terrain.
During the press briefing , Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu revealed that the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) had enlisted the help of its counterparts in Zambia and Tanzania to provide technical expertise in locating the aircraft.
Macra had also activated the emergency telecommunications operations center to ensure provision of support and also engaged the Angola Space Agency to help with satellite imagery with 2 drones that were being used in search efforts to scan the area.
The plane was carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and eight others when it left the capital, Lilongwe, but later failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport. Aviation authorities lost contact when the plane went off radar.