…Search & Rescue Missions Ends in Disaster
The Malawian government have confirmed the death of the country’s vice-president Saulos Chilima an nine others following a tragic helicopter crash on Monday, 10 June 2024.
The Dornier 228 military plane carrying Chilima and the rest of the contingent on board, including former first lady Shanil Muluzi, went missing after leaving the capital, Lilongwe for Mzuzu in the northern region prompting the Malawi Defence Force to launch a search and rescue mission.
After hours of the search, the Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera announced this Tuesday morning during a national address that the aircraft has been located in the Chikangwa mountain range, with all 10 passengers on board dead.
President Chakwera has since declared Tuesday, June 11, 2024 a national day of mourning in honour of the vice-president and the rest of the victims.
Chilima and the rest of the contingent had been set to travel to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of the country’s late attorney general.
Before his tragic death, the 51-year old had emerged in Malawi as a possible contender in next year’s presidential elections.
