Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others — including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri — were killed when a military aircraft crashed in northern Malawi on June 10, 2024, during severe weather. The Dornier 228-202K aircraft was later found completely destroyed in the Chikangawa Forest after it was initially reported missing, as President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed at the time.
Chilima, widely seen as a potential candidate in the next presidential election, had returned from South Korea after attending the Korea-Africa summit. The crash occurred while he was en route to the funeral of Malawi’s former justice minister in Mzuzu. The flight left Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m., but due to low visibility, it was unable to land at Mzuzu Airport. It was instructed to turn back to Lilongwe, after which contact with air traffic control was lost and the aircraft disappeared from radar.
President Chakwera announced in a nationwide address that search and rescue operations had ended. “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, adding that the military had begun transporting the victims’ remains back to the capital.
Despite the aircraft’s strong safety record and the expertise of its crew, the redirected flight toward Lilongwe encountered a fatal problem that led to the crash.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with honor, and a powerful vice president,” Chakwera said in his tribute.
Images shared online showed security personnel and first responders at the crash site, with debris scattered around what remained of the aircraft’s tail section.
Chilima, 51, had previously been the director of Airtel Malawi and led the United Transformation Movement party. He partnered with Chakwera to form the ruling Tonse Alliance and served as his running mate in the 2020 election victory. However, tensions rose between them in the lead-up to the 2025 presidential vote, with expectations that Chilima might challenge Chakwera.
Chilima was arrested in 2022 on corruption allegations, which were later dropped after the Director of Public Prosecutions moved to discontinue the case. Chilima consistently insisted he was innocent.
President Chakwera declared a national day of mourning for the crash victims. The remains of Chilima and the others were flown back to Lilongwe.
International partners played a major role in the search and rescue effort, with countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel sending specialized equipment. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed deep concern about the disaster and offered full assistance, including a Defense C-12 aircraft.
The tragedy plunged Malawi into profound grief, with many offering condolences. AFP noted that “Dr. 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 plane disaster that killed Chilima. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango told parliament in February 2026 that earlier reports had not fully answered major questions surrounding the June 10, 2024 crash, prompting the renewed inquiry.
The original investigation, carried out by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation and published in May 2025, found 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 that radio communications between the crew and Lilongwe’s air navigation services were not recorded. A separate commission set up by then-President Lazarus Chakwera concluded in December 2024 that there was no evidence of foul play, citing environmental and human factors such as severe weather and pressured decision-making.
The new inquiry, to be overseen by a commission of lawmakers and international experts, follows Mutharika’s rise to power after the September 16, 2025 general election. His government pledged to review previous findings for any grounds for further action. Officials from the United Transformation Movement, the late vice president’s party, have welcomed the renewed investigation into the crash that also claimed the life of Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, along with seven other passengers.