A plane carrying Saulos Chilima, the Vice-President of Malawi, has gone missing, sparking a large-scale search and rescue operation. The Malawi Defense Force aircraft, which had nine other passengers on board, disappeared from radar shortly after departing from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.

The aircraft was en route to Mzuzu International Airport in northern Malawi and was expected to land shortly after 10 a.m. local time. However, the plane went off radar, causing immediate concern.

In a statement on Monday night, President Lazarus Chakwera expressed deep concern and sorrow over the incident. He confirmed that search and rescue operations are underway and assured the nation that the efforts would continue until the plane is found. The President described the situation as heartbreaking and canceled his scheduled trip to the Bahamas to oversee the crisis response.

General Valentino Phiri briefed President Chakwera, stating that the cause of the plane’s disappearance remains unknown. Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu informed the BBC that intensive efforts were ongoing to locate the missing aircraft.

Vice-President Chilima was traveling to represent the government at the burial of former Minister of State Ralph Kasambara, who passed away three days ago. Chilima has had a notable career both in politics and the private sector. Prior to his political career, he held leadership roles at multinational companies such as Unilever and Coca-Cola.

Saulos Chilima, 51, has been serving as the Vice-President of Malawi since 2014. He has two children and is described on the government website as efficient, hardworking, and successful. However, his career has not been without controversy. In 2022, Chilima faced arrest over allegations of accepting bribes for government contracts. The charges were dismissed by a Malawian court last month without explanation.

As of now, the search and rescue teams are focusing on the area where the plane was last detected. The efforts involve both air and ground units, with hopes of locating the aircraft and its passengers soon. The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, with many anxiously awaiting updates on the Vice-President’s fate.

The international community is also closely monitoring the situation, extending their support and solidarity with Malawi during this critical time.