No Survivors In Crash Of Dornier Do228 Carrying Malawi’s Vice President & 9 Other Passengers

The President of the Republic of Malawi, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has confirmed that the Malawi Defense Force Dornier Do228 carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other passengers crashed in the Chikangawa Forest in the northern part of the country. Sadly, all passengers and crew perished in the crash.

Malawi Vice President dies in plane crash

On June 10, 2024, the Malawian Vice President and nine others were flying from Lilongwe Kamuzu International Airport (LLW), the country’s major airport, to Mzuzu Airstrip in the northern part of the country. They were traveling onboard a Malawi Air Force Dornier Do228-200, registration MAF-T03/MAAW-T03. According to ch-aviation, the aircraft took its first flight in December 1987 and was delivered to the Malawi Army Air Wing in June 1988.

According to President Chakwera, the military aircraft departed Mzuzu Airfield on June 10 at 07:05 and flew to Lilongwe, landing at 07:40 local time. It took off from the capital at 09:17 with Vice President Chilima and nine others, including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri. The delegation was due to attend the funeral of former attorney general and minister of justice Raphael Kasambara, who passed away on June 7.

The military aircraft was scheduled to land in Mzuzu at 10:02 local time. However, over 24 hours after failing to make its scheduled landing, President Chakwera confirmed that the wreckage was found and there were no survivors. He said on national television,

“The Malawi Defense Force Commander has informed me that the search and rescue operation I ordered to find the missing plane that carried our vice president and nine others has been completed, and the plane has been found. I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill in the Chikangawa forest and has found the aircraft completely destroyed with no survivors.”

The President added that all passengers were killed on impact. The Malawi Defense Force is in the process of transporting the bodies back to Lilongwe. Born in February 1973, the former vice president was first sworn into the position in May 2014 before starting a second term in June 2020. President Chakwera has declared Tuesday, June 11, a day of national mourning.

Related

Iranian President Dies In Crash Of Pre-Revolution Bell-212 Helicopter

It is confirmed the President of Iran has died following his helicopter crashing in remote mountains in foggy weather.

A day-long search for the wreckage

The Office of the President and Cabinet initially reported that the aircraft was missing. Upon receiving the news, President Chakwera canceled his planned trip to the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation. As seen on Great Circle Mapper, the airfield is about 141 NM (261 km) from Lilongwe Airport.

According to Chakwera, the crew failed to land in Mzuzu due to poor visibility in the area and was advised to return to the capital. However, authorities soon lost contact with the aircraft as it disappeared from radar. Malawi’s head of state called for an initial report, which suggested that the aircraft was located within a 10km radius of Raiply in the Chikangawa forest.

Malawi Defense Force authorities launched an extensive search, while the government sought assistance from international parties, including neighboring countries and the US, UK, Norwegian, and Israeli governments. Earlier this morning, the US Embassy in Lilongwe posted on X that it was working with the Malawian government to offer all available assistance, including using a US Department of Defense C-12 aircraft to locate the wreckage.

What are your thoughts on this story? Please let us know in the comments!