Authorities in Malawi have launched a fresh probe into the death of Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, who died alongside nine others when a military aircraft crashed in June 2024. President Peter Mutharika ordered the new investigation after earlier findings left critical questions unanswered and failed to satisfy the public’s demand for accountability.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango told parliament in February 2026 that previous reports did not adequately address key concerns about the crash, which occurred in the Chikangawa Forest in northern Malawi. The announcement came more than a year and a half after the tragedy that killed Chilima, former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and seven others aboard the Dornier 228-202K military plane.
A German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation report released in May 2025 blamed marginal weather conditions and poor visibility for causing the aircraft to strike rising terrain, leaving no survivors. But that investigation revealed that radio communications between the flight crew and air navigation service units in Lilongwe were never recorded. A commission created by then-President Lazarus Chakwera also concluded in December 2024 that human and environmental factors caused the disaster, finding no evidence of foul play — yet neither report quelled public skepticism.
In late March 2026, Speaker Sameer Suleman formed a 13-member Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee to carry out the new investigation, with Walter Nyamilandu Manda appointed as chairman. The body, drawn from across the political spectrum, is mandated to run for 90 days before presenting its conclusions to Parliament.
The committee’s formation encountered early turbulence when the Malawi Congress Party temporarily withdrew over impartiality concerns, though it later rejoined after negotiations led by the Speaker. By late April 2026, the panel had finished its preparatory work, including drafting terms of reference and creating an investigative roadmap. Full investigations are scheduled to begin by mid-May 2026.
“The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee established to conduct a fresh inquiry into the Chikangawa Plane Crash has successfully concluded its preparatory work and is now ready to commence investigations,” Nyamilandu said. He promised the inquiry would be conducted with fairness, professionalism, and transparency. The committee plans to run three simultaneous investigative tracks: a health, safety, security, and environmental audit; a forensic audit; and autopsy and post-mortem examinations. More than 150 witnesses are expected to testify, and officials have urged the public to share any relevant information.
Chilima’s United Transformation Movement party has embraced the renewed investigation, along with many Malawians who have long pressed for definitive answers about the crash that devastated the nation.
The June 10, 2024 crash occurred as Chilima traveled to attend the funeral of Malawi’s ex-justice minister in Mzuzu. The 51-year-old vice president had just returned from South Korea, where he attended the Korea-Africa summit. The aircraft departed Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. but was unable to land at Mzuzu airport because of low visibility. Air traffic control ordered the plane to return to Lilongwe, but it vanished from radar after losing contact.
President Chakwera announced the grim outcome in a national address after search and rescue teams located the wreckage. “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. The military transported the victims’ remains back to the capital, and Chakwera declared a national day of mourning to honor those who perished.
Chilima, who was seen as a potential candidate in the upcoming presidential election, served as director of Airtel Malawi before entering politics as leader of the United Transformation Movement party. He joined forces with Chakwera to create the ruling Tonse Alliance and became his running mate in their victorious 2020 election campaign. But as the 2025 presidential election drew closer, their alliance showed signs of strain, with Chilima expected to mount a challenge against Chakwera.
“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 said in tribute.
Authorities arrested Chilima in 2022 on corruption allegations, though the Director of Public Prosecutions later dropped the charges by filing a notice to discontinue the case. Chilima maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
Multiple countries assisted with the search and rescue mission, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel providing specialized equipment. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed deep concern and offered all available aid, including a Defense C-12 aircraft.
The disaster threw Malawi into mourning, with condolences pouring in from across the nation. AFP news agency reports stated that Chilima was widely loved, particularly among the youth. Images circulated online showed security and rescue personnel at the crash site, with aircraft debris scattered around the plane’s tail section.
