On June 10, 2024, Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of Malawi, along with nine others including the former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, died in a tragic military plane crash due to inclement weather conditions in northern Malawi. The Dornier 228-202K aircraft disappeared on Monday morning and was later found completely obliterated in the Chikangawa Forest, as announced by President Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday.
Chilima, considered a potential candidate for the upcoming presidential election, had just returned from South Korea where he attended the Korea-Africa summit. He was traveling to the funeral of Malawi’s ex-justice minister in Mzuzu at the time of the crash. The plane took off from Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m., but due to low visibility, it could not land at Mzuzu airport. Instructions were given to return to Lilongwe, but the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and disappeared from radar.
“I am heartbroken to announce that this has ended in a dreadful tragedy. The search and rescue team located the aircraft near a hill, completely destroyed with no survivors,” said President Chakwera in a national address. He confirmed that the crash resulted in immediate death for all passengers, and their remains were transported back to the capital by the military.
Despite the aircraft’s reliable history and the crew’s experience, something went wrong during the return flight to Lilongwe, causing the plane to crash.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a dedicated father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his nation with distinction, and a formidable vice president,” Chakwera commented.
Images circulating online show security and rescue personnel at the crash site with scattered debris from the plane.
Former Airtel Malawi’s director, Chilima, 51, was also the leader of the United Transformation Movement party. He joined Chakwera to form the ruling Tonse Alliance and was his running mate in the successful 2020 elections. However, tension began to surface between the two as the 2025 presidential election approached, with Chilima expected to run against Chakwera.
In 2022, Chilima was arrested on corruption charges, which were dropped last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a discontinuation notice. Chilima maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.
In honor of those who died in the crash, President Chakwera has declared a national day of mourning. The remains of Chilima and the other victims are en route to Lilongwe, and funeral details will be announced in due time.
Several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Norway provided essential support in the search and rescue operations. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed its deep concern over the crash and offered all possible assistance, including the use of a Defense C-12 aircraft.
Malawi is in a state of mourning following the crash, with many expressing their condolences. “Dr. Chilima was widely loved, particularly among the youth,” claimed reports from the AFP news agency.
Chilima is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
