A aircraft wearing Malawi’s vice-president could have crashed in a woodland within the north of the rustic, a senior army legit has stated.

Saulos Chilima and 9 others have been aviation inside the nation on Monday morning when their airplane disappeared from airport radars.

The aircraft, an army airplane, was once aviation in unholy climate.

Infantrymen were looking Chikangawa Woodland in an aim to search out the aircraft.

In press briefing on Tuesday, Malawi Defence Drive commander Paul Valentino Phiri stated fog has diminished visibility within the woodland, thus complicating seek efforts.

President Lazarus Chakwera has stated the undertaking will have to proceed till the aircraft is located.

He instructed Malawians in an cope with on Monday night: “I know that we are all frightened and concerned – I too am concerned.

“However I wish to safeguard you that I’m sparing deny to be had useful resource to search out that aircraft and I’m retaining onto each and every thread of hope that we will be able to to find survivors.”

However, Dr Chilima’s party, the United Transformation Movement (UTM), said they were “disenchanted” with the search operation.

UTM officials alleged that the search started at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) despite the plane going missing at 10:00.

The vice-president and president come from different parties but the two teamed up to form an alliance during the 2020 elections.

Dr Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.

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.

President Chakwera said he has contacted the governments of various countries, including the US, UK, Norway and Israel, who had all offered support “in numerous capacities” to help find the plane.

Dr Chilima has been vice-president of Malawi since 2014.

He is widely loved in Malawi, particularly among the youth, AFP news agency reports.

However, Dr Chilima was arrested and charged in 2022 on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts.

Last month, the court dropped the charges, giving no reasons for the decision.

Dr Chilima is married with two youngsters