Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima, 51, died in a plane crash on Monday, as confirmed by President Lazarus Chakwera. The military plane carrying Chilima and nine others disappeared after failing to land in Mzuzu due to bad weather and was directed to return to the capital, Lilongwe.
Search teams found the wreckage in a foggy forest, with no survivors. President Chakwera described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” and expressed his heartbreak.
The plane, a Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K, was en route to a funeral when it crashed. The group included Malawi’s former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri.
Despite the aircraft’s solid track record and the crew’s experience, something went wrong on its flight back to Lilongwe, leading to the crash.
Chilima, first elected vice president in 2014, was a beloved figure, particularly among young people. He had recently resumed his duties after being cleared of graft charges.
President Chakwera paid tribute to Chilima, calling him a devoted father, husband, and patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction.