NKHOTAKOTA-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Government and Nyassa Express have confirmed a private charter flight, 7Q-PFU (Cessna C210) was involved in an accident in the lakeshore district of Nkhotakota on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
Both government and Nyassa Express statements issued on Tuesday evening said the accident happened at 14:06 hours
“Nyassa Express confirms that a private charter flight, operated by Nyassa Express, 7Q-PFU (Cessna C210), departed from Tongole Airfield in Nkhotakota Game Reserve today at 14:06, en route to Liwonde Game Reserve, and failed to land as scheduled. The flight was carrying two passengers and one pilot.
“The last satellite position received by Nyassa operations placed the aircraft approximately 70 kilometers south of Nkhotakota, near the shoreline of Lake Malawi,” reads Nyassa Express statement in part.
The statement adds, “This location is the current focus of intensive search and rescue operations. Nyassa Express is relieved to report that one of the passengers has been located.
“The individual was able to walk and has since been transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. The search efforts continue for the remaining passenger and the pilot, as well as the aircraft itself.
The Civil Aviation Authorities are actively coordinating the search and rescue operations, with the assistance of Nyassa Express and other relevant agencies. Every effort is being made to locate the aircraft and those still missing as quickly as possible. At this moment, no further information is available”.
On the other hand, Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu adds, “A female Dutch passenger has survived the accident with minor injuries after being rescued by local fishermen. She is currently being treated in hospital in the district”.
Meanwhile, the aircraft has been sighted under the water surface and rescue efforts are underway to pull the aircraft ashore.
