Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Klaus Chilima, together with nine others, including former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, perished in a military aircraft accident caused by severe weather conditions in northern Malawi on June 10, 2024. The Dornier 228-202K plane, which went missing, was discovered completely destroyed in the Chikangawa Forest, as announced by President Lazarus Chakwera.
The investigation has been reopened.
Chilima, viewed as a likely contender in the upcoming presidential race, had just returned from South Korea after participating in the Korea-Africa summit. The accident happened while he traveled to attend the memorial service for Malawi’s former justice minister in Mzuzu. The aircraft departed Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m., but reduced visibility prevented landing at Mzuzu airport. The plane was rerouted back to Lilongwe but then lost radio contact and disappeared from radar screens.
President Chakwera stated in a public announcement that the search and rescue effort had concluded. “I am deeply saddened to report that this has resulted in a tragic outcome. The rescue team found the plane near a hill, completely destroyed with all lives lost,” he stated. The military began retrieving the victims’ remains to transport them to the capital, he confirmed.
Despite the aircraft’s proven track record and the crew’s qualifications, the journey to Lilongwe experienced a catastrophic issue that led to the accident.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a committed father and spouse, a loyal national figure who contributed significantly to his country, and an outstanding vice president,” Chakwera remarked in tribute.
Photos posted on social media depicted emergency personnel and rescue workers at the wreckage location with plane fragments scattered around the fuselage’s rear section.
Chilima, age 51, was formerly the chief executive of Airtel Malawi and the chairman of the United Transformation Movement party. He collaborated with Chakwera to establish the governing Tonse Alliance and served as his running mate in their victorious 2020 campaign. Nevertheless, as the 2025 presidential race drew near, their partnership deteriorated, with Chilima anticipated to compete against Chakwera.
In 2022, Chilima was detained on suspicion of corrupt conduct. The allegations were dismissed when the Public Prosecutor chose to withdraw the case. During the judicial proceedings, Chilima maintained his innocence.
President Chakwera announced a nationwide period of remembrance to commemorate those killed in the incident. Chilima’s remains and those of other victims were transported to Lilongwe.
Global assistance was instrumental in the search and rescue endeavors, with nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel furnishing advanced tools. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe voiced grave alarm about the accident and made available all possible assistance, including a Defense C-12 plane.
The accident left Malawi in sorrow, with numerous individuals offering their sympathies. News reports from AFP indicated that Chilima commanded extensive affection, notably among younger populations.
Chilima is survived by his spouse, Mary, and their two offspring, Sean and Elizabeth.
Roughly eighteen months following the catastrophic accident, Malawian President Peter Mutharika initiated a renewed examination into the military plane disaster that took Chilima’s life. Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Charles Mhango informed parliament in February 2026 that the earlier inquiries did not sufficiently examine key concerns regarding the June 2024 incident, making a comprehensive re-investigation necessary.
The earlier inquiry conducted by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, published in May 2025, established that poor weather with restricted visibility caused the Dornier 228-202(K) plane to strike terrain that rose above its altitude, leaving those on board no possibility of survival. Nonetheless, the report indicated that exchanges between the pilots and navigation personnel in Lilongwe were not documented. A separate body formed by then-President Lazarus Chakwera reported in December 2024 that no indicators of illegal activity were identified, attributing the tragedy to natural and procedural factors — yet both conclusions left numerous Malawians wanting more clarity.
In early April 2026, Parliament took action on Mutharika’s request. Presiding Officer Sameer Suleman formed a 13-member Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee composed of members from various political parties, with Walter Nyamilandu Manda serving as leader. The creation involved complications — the Malawi Congress Party initially exited the effort due to impartiality reservations before returning after the Speaker facilitated discussions. The committee will have 90 days to deliver its conclusions to Parliament.
By late April 2026, the committee had finished its foundational stage — creating investigation parameters, determining the investigation’s extent, and creating an organized examination plan. Comprehensive investigations are scheduled to launch by mid-May 2026, with the examination proceeding along three concurrent paths: a health, safety, security, and environmental evaluation; a fiscal examination; and body and medical evaluations. The committee plans to speak with approximately 150 individuals and has encouraged the general public to provide any pertinent evidence.
“The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee tasked with executing a comprehensive re-examination of the Chikangawa Plane Crash has effectively finished its foundational phase and is prepared to commence the investigation,” Nyamilandu declared. He assured that the undertaking would be executed with fairness, expertise, and openness. Chilima’s United Transformation Movement party has endorsed the fresh inquiry, as have numerous Malawians who have been calling for conclusive information about the accident that disrupted the nation almost two years before.