Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has cancelled his trip to Bahamas after a plane with his Vice, Saulos Chilima and nine others went missing.

A statement by Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, said  all efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the helicopter since it went off the radar had failed thus far.

The aircraft failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport. Contact was last made at 10am.

Meanwhile, Chakwera has ordered all relevant authorities to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation for the missing plane.

More details to follow.