An aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others has gone missing, the presidency announced on Monday.
“Efforts by aviation authorities to re-establish contact with the aircraft since it went off radar have been unsuccessful,” stated Malawi’s Office of the President and Cabinet.
Chilima, 51, was on board a Malawi Defense Force aircraft that departed from the capital, Lilongwe, at 09:17. The statement added that search and rescue operations are currently underway.
The aircraft was scheduled to land at Mzuzu International Airport after a flight of less than an hour.
President Lazarus Chakwera, who had planned to travel to the Bahamas, has canceled his trip, his office reported.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.