Malawi's Vice President Dies in Plane Crash

Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima was en route to the funeral of former Justice Minister Ralph Kasambala.

The plane carrying Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was found this morning in the Chikangawa forest. Unfortunately, all individuals on board were confirmed dead due to the crash, as per the presidential press service.

Malawi's leader Lazarus Chakwera has declared a day of national mourning and ordered that all flags be flown at half-mast from today until the funeral. Among those on the downed aircraft was also former First Lady Patricia Shanil Muluzi, the wife of Malawi's second president Bakili Muluzi, who served as the country's leader from 1994 to 2004.

Vice President Saulos Chilima was 51 years old and is survived by his wife and two children. He had been in office since 2014.

The plane carrying the Vice President and nine others disappeared from radar on the morning of June 10, shortly after departing from the capital city of Lilongwe. The aircraft was set to land at Mzuzu International Airport in the northern part of the country after 10:00 AM local time.