This is the Malawi Air Force Dornier 228 (Reg MAAW-T04) which disappeared whilst flying the country’s vice president Saulos Chilima on Monday morning.

The Dornier 228, a German-built aircraft delivered to Malawi in 1990, has a reputation for reliability and has been used for various military and civilian purposes.

The plane took off from Kamuzu International Airport and was headed to Mzuzu International Airport when it lost contact with air traffic control. The last known location was over the mountainous forests near Mzuzu.

President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered a search and rescue operation, with teams from the military, police, and civilian authorities scouring the forests for any sign of the plane or its occupants.

The government has appealed for calm and patience as the search continues. The public is in shock, with many taking to social media to pray for the safe return of the vice president and the other passengers.

The cause of the disappearance is yet to be determined, and the search operation is ongoing.