Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Klaus Chilima, along with nine others—including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri—died in a military plane crash caused by severe weather in northern Malawi on June 10, 2024. The Dornier 228-202K aircraft, initially reported missing, was later discovered destroyed in the Chikangawa Forest, as President Lazarus Chakwera announced in June 2024.
Chilima, who was widely viewed as a potential contender in the 2025 presidential election, had just returned from South Korea after attending the Korea-Africa summit. The crash happened as he was traveling to the funeral of Malawi’s former justice minister in Mzuzu. The plane departed Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m., but poor visibility prevented it from landing in Mzuzu. It was redirected back to Lilongwe before losing contact with air traffic control and vanishing from radar.
President Chakwera confirmed in a national address that search and rescue efforts had concluded. “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,” he said. He added that the military had begun transporting the victims’ remains back to the capital.
Despite the aircraft’s reputation for reliability and the crew’s expertise, the flight encountered a fatal issue that resulted in the crash.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic Malawian who served his country with honor, and a strong vice president,” Chakwera said in tribute.
Photos shared online depicted security forces and rescue workers at the site, with debris scattered around the aircraft’s tail section.
Chilima, 51, had previously served as the director of Airtel Malawi and led the United Transformation Movement party. He joined forces with Chakwera to form the Tonse Alliance, serving as Chakwera’s running mate in their victorious 2020 campaign. However, as the 2025 presidential election neared, tensions grew between them, with Chilima was expected to challenge the president at the time.
Chilima was arrested in 2022 on corruption charges, though the case was dismissed after the Director of Public Prosecutions filed a notice to discontinue proceedings. Throughout the ordeal, Chilima maintained his innocence.
President Chakwera declared a national day of mourning in honor of the victims. The bodies of Chilima and the others were returned to Lilongwe.
International partners played a significant role in the search efforts, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel contributing specialized equipment. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed deep concern over the incident and offered extensive support, including the use of a Defense C-12 aircraft.
The crash brought widespread grief across Malawi, with many offering condolences. AFP reported that Chilima “was widely loved, particularly among the youth.”
Chilima is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
In February 2026, Malawian President Peter Mutharika ordered a new investigation into the military aircraft crash that killed Chilima. In February 2026, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango told parliament that earlier reports failed to fully address key issues surrounding the June 10, 2024 incident, prompting the need for a renewed inquiry.
The initial investigation by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, released in May 2025, concluded that “marginal weather conditions with poor visibility” caused the Dornier 228-202(K) to collide with rising terrain, leaving no chance of survival. However, the report also noted the lack of recorded radio communication between the flight crew and air navigation services in Lilongwe. Another commission, established by then-President Lazarus Chakwera, found in December 2024 that there was no evidence of foul play, attributing the crash to human and environmental factors such as poor weather and pressured decision-making.
The new inquiry, led by a parliamentary committee bolstered by international aviation accident experts, was launched after Mutharika took office following the September 16, 2025 general elections. Mhango cited specific integrity concerns with the previous commission, including the resignation of two of its commissioners and witnesses who refused to testify. His administration is committed to reevaluating previous findings and determining whether further action is needed. Members of the United Transformation Movement, the party founded by the late vice president, welcomed the renewed investigation into the circumstances of the crash, which also killed Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, and seven others.
