Malawi parliamentary inquiry hears testimony on fatal plane crash

A Malawian Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating the June 2024 military plane crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others has heard testimony regarding operational challenges and potential scene tampering.

Major General Richard Chagonapanja, who led the search and rescue operation, informed the committee that the mission was hindered by heavy fog, difficult terrain, and a lack of adequate equipment. He noted that the absence of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and inaccurate sighting reports further complicated efforts. Chagonapanja stated that while the search was delayed, the experience should serve as a lesson for future operations.

Former Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer Harry Mbewe testified that the crash site in Nthungwa had been tampered with before investigators arrived. Mbewe reported that bodies had been moved and placed in bags without forensic documentation. He also noted that investigators from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) conducted their probe without assistance from local Malawi Police investigators, which he suggested could have resulted in missing critical details.