The Malawi Defense Force plane "disappeared from radar" after taking off from the capital Lilongwe on Monday morning, the BBC reports.
The President ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation authorities were unable to contact the plane.
It was due to land at Mzuzu International Airport in the north of the country just after 10am local time, the BBC reports.
After being informed of the incident by the defense force commander, Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera canceled his flight to the Bahamas, which was scheduled for Monday evening.
"The public will be updated on any developments in the situation once the facts are established," the presidential office said.
According to the BBC report, General Valentino Phiri told Chakwera that the cause of the plane's disappearance was not yet known.
Malawi's Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu told the BBC that efforts to find the plane were "intensive".
Chilima was on his way to represent the government at the funeral of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who died three days earlier.
Kunkuyu said: “The airport where he was supposed to land, which is in the northern part of Mzuzu, was the closest to where the funeral was taking place.”
According to the BBC report, in 2022, Chilima was arrested on charges of taking money in exchange for awarding government contracts.
Last month, the court dropped the charges without giving any reason for the decision.
The President ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation authorities were unable to contact the plane.
It was due to land at Mzuzu International Airport in the north of the country just after 10am local time, the BBC reports.
After being informed of the incident by the defense force commander, Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera canceled his flight to the Bahamas, which was scheduled for Monday evening.
"The public will be updated on any developments in the situation once the facts are established," the presidential office said.
According to the BBC report, General Valentino Phiri told Chakwera that the cause of the plane's disappearance was not yet known.
Malawi's Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu told the BBC that efforts to find the plane were "intensive".
Chilima was on his way to represent the government at the funeral of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who died three days earlier.
Kunkuyu said: “The airport where he was supposed to land, which is in the northern part of Mzuzu, was the closest to where the funeral was taking place.”
According to the BBC report, in 2022, Chilima was arrested on charges of taking money in exchange for awarding government contracts.
Last month, the court dropped the charges without giving any reason for the decision.
