The aircraft carrying Chilima, who was seen as a potential candidate in next year’s presidential election, went missing on Monday (June 10).

Chakwera said all passengers on board were killed on impact and that the military was bringing their remains back to the capital.

Images shared by the Zambian Air Force showed body bags, reported to be the remains of passengers who were onboard, being load in a helicopter.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the date and location of the footage.

Chilima, 51, was arrested in 2022 over graft allegations. However, a court dropped the charges against him last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice for the case to be discontinued. Chilima denied wrongdoing.

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Earlier, Malawi’s president Lazarus Chakwera said late on Monday (June 10) that he had ordered that search and rescue operations continue until the plane carrying Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima was found.

"MDF soldiers are still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found," Chakwera said.

An aircraft carrying the vice president, Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others went missing after losing contact with aviation authorities en-route to Mzuzu earlier on Monday.

The military aircraft left Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) and had been scheduled to land at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 a.m, Malawi's Office of the President and Cabinet said.

Chilima, seen as a potential candidate in next year’s presidential election, was arrested in 2022 over graft allegations.

However, a Malawi court dropped the corruption charges against him last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice for the case to be discontinued. Chilima has denied any wrongdoing.