Tinubu mourns as Malawi VP dies in plane crash

The wreck of a plane carrying Malawi’s vice president has been found with no survivors, President Lazarus Chakwera has said.

Saulos Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.

The plane, a military aircraft, was flying in bad weather.

Soldiers had been searching Chikangawa Forest overnight and into the morning to find the plane.

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In a news briefing on Tuesday, President Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search-and-rescue operation had been completed and the plane was found.

Mr Chakwera said he was “deeply saddened and sorry” to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy.

He said the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.

Former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.

It was meant to land at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu, but was turned back because of poor visibility.

Dr Chilima had been vice president of Malawi since 2014.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the Malawian president over the passing of Chilima and others.

According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, a presidential spokesman, President Tinubu assured Malawi of Nigeria’s support during this time of mourning and commiserated with the families of the deceased “over this deeply distressing incident.