Malawi plane crash inquiry hears testimony on weather and pilot training

A parliamentary inquiry into the Chikangawa plane crash that killed Malawi Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others has heard conflicting testimony regarding weather and pilot readiness.

Olive Chavunguma, former officer-in-charge at the Mzuzu Climate Change and Meteorological Station, testified that the aircraft could have landed at Mzuzu Airport on the morning of June 10, 2024. She reported visibility of eight kilometres despite overcast skies, drizzle, and fog. While she noted the weather was generally poor, she maintained that the visibility was sufficient for landing and that the aircraft had previously operated under similar conditions.

In contrast, retired Brigadier General Juvenalis Mtende, a former military pilot who trained the flight's commander, Colonel Owen Sambalopa, stated he would not have permitted the flight to depart in those conditions. Mtende emphasized that an experienced crew should have assessed the risks and potentially grounded the flight to prioritize safety over protocol. He also highlighted that international aviation studies attribute over 70 percent of accidents to aircrew-related factors, such as communication breakdowns in the cockpit.