An aircraft carrying Saulos Chilima, the Vice President of East African country Malawi, went missing on Monday according to a statement from the president's office. Nine others were also reportedly on board the flight.

The statement said that the Malawi Defense Force aircraft "went off the radar" after leaving the capital, Lilongwe, per BBC News. Aviation officials were unable to make contact with the aircraft, which was supposed to land at Mzuzu International Airport in North Malawi, sparking a search and rescue operation ordered by the country's president, Lazarus Chakwera.

Chilima was on his way to the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who had passed away 3 days ago.

Chakwera canceled his scheduled flight to the Bahamas after being informed that the aircraft was missing.

“The public will be updated of any developments on the situation as facts are established,” the president's office said.

51-year-old Chilema has been the VP of Malawi since 2014. He is married and has 2 children.

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