Tag Archives: German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation

Obituaries, Opinion, Politics

Avoidable tragedy: Poor weather decision blamed for Chilima Plane Crash

Burnett Munthali

The latest findings into the fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10, 2024, have pointed to a deeply troubling conclusion.

Investigators have determined that the primary cause of the accident was the flight crew’s decision to proceed into weather conditions that severely limited visibility.

This revelation shifts the narrative from mechanical failure or sabotage theories to a human decision-making error under operational pressure or misjudgment.

Flying into adverse weather is a known risk factor in aviation, particularly when visual flight rules (VFR) are compromised by fog, low clouds, or other meteorological obstacles.

The fact that this flight was allowed to proceed despite such conditions raises serious questions about communication between air traffic control, meteorological services, and the flight crew.

Furthermore, the decision suggests either a lack of updated weather information or a miscalculation in assessing the severity of the conditions en route or at the destination.

For a flight carrying high-ranking government officials, including the Vice President of the Republic, the standards of caution should have been elevated, not compromised.

This report reignites concerns about safety protocols within Malawi’s air transport system, especially regarding flights involving state officials and other VIPs.

It also underscores the need for urgent reforms in aviation decision-making, particularly in how weather advisories are handled and acted upon by flight crews.

The tragic loss of Vice President Chilima and eight others must now become a turning point for policy makers to enforce stricter aviation safety standards and accountability.

Their deaths should not be in vain; instead, they should catalyze a systemic overhaul to prevent such disasters from ever occurring again.

The emotional impact of this tragedy continues to weigh heavily on the nation, but the findings now demand a parallel pursuit of justice, responsibility, and reform.

Ultimately, the nation must reckon not just with the loss of its leaders, but with the avoidable nature of their deaths.

Human Rights, Malawi

CDEDI demands answers- “Who lied to President Chakwera about ill-fated army aircraft?”

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is demanding transparency and accountability following the release of the interim report by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (FBU) on the tragic military plane crash that killed State Vice-President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, former First Lady Dr. Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, and seven others.

In a press statement issued, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa is therefore demanding answers to the following questions:

  1. Who lied to President Chakwera about the aircraft reaching Mzuzu, contradicting the report’s findings?
  2. Why did the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander and Minister of Information provide false information about the crash site’s location?
  3. What was the motive behind MACRA’s decision to initiate a toll-free line to locate the aircraft when mobile phone signals were available?
  4. Who switched off the mobile transmitter tower near the crash site, and what happened to the passengers’ phones?
  5. Who sanctioned the movement of the aircraft wreckage from the crash site, and why?

Namiwa has also challenged President Chakwera to come forward and set the record straight, and for the Army chief and MACRA Director General to justify their statements and actions, which have been contradicted by the report.

“The nation deserves the truth about this tragic accident’, demands in part CDEDI statement.

But on Saturday, September 31, Government Spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu told the nation that must be patient enough for comprehensive report next year.

On the other hand, Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) urged Malawians not to politicise the report ahead of next year’s general elections.

Malawi, Obituaries

Chikangawa plane crash report: Kabambe advices Chakwera to address “grave safety concerns”

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Dr. Dalitso Kabambe has advised President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration to prioritize a thorough investigation into grave safety concerns and address the shortcomings highlighted in the interim report regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of the late former Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others.

Dr Kabambe observes that the report’s findings raise serious questions about the safety protocols and quality controls implemented by public servants.

“This is not merely an isolated incident and it is a stark reminder of the systemic issues that plague our civil service,” Kabambe said.

He indicated that there is need to confront these challenges head-on, for the safety of citizens and the integrity of our Institutions depend on it.

“It is time to shine a spotlight on the processes that govern our civil service and demand accountability from those in positions of power,” he added.

According to Kabambe, reform and public inquiry is necessary, and it is essential that we create a culture of transparency, responsibility, and excellence within our public service.

“The lives lost in this tragedy must not be in vain, they must serve as a catalyst for meaningful change,” Kabambe explained.

He further indicated that there is need to unite in our commitment to ensuring that our civil service operates with the utmost dedication to public safety and welfare.

“Together, we can forge a future where such preventable tragedies are behind us, where every citizen can trust that their government prioritizes their safety above all else,” he indicated.

The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation on August 30, 2024 released a report on the aircraft accident at Chikangawa Forest that killed former vice president, late Chilima and eight others.

The report, published by Germany Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, vividly shows that the plane crash, which killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, was “not survivable.”

The 19-page report, which is now viral on social media,shows that the aircraft was manufactured in 1987 and had many of its key equipment and machines archaic and not maintained to the expected standards for it to be airborne.

The interim report mentions poor weather, including low visibility, clouds, and fog near the destination airport in Mzuzu,adding that the flight crew had difficulty navigating through these conditions, which could have led to spatial disorientation or an inability to maintain a safe flight path.

It also says there was a delay in locating Veep’s plane due to Faulty Equipment used for searching.

Details provided in the interim report show that the aircraft had been flying without Cockpick Voice Recorder or Flight Data Recorder, which it says were not required by relevant regulatory regulations.

The battery of its Emergency Transmission Locator is also said to have long expired in 2004 and according Malawi Defence Force, there were no spare parts or budget for replacement.

The report clearly shows that the plane did not reach Mzuzu Airport.

Briefly, the interim report does not explicitly state a definitive cause for the crash of the Dornier 228-202(K) aircraft. However, several factors likely contributed to the accident:

  1. Marginal Weather Conditions: The report mentions poor weather, including low visibility, clouds, and fog near the destination airport in Mzuzu. The flight crew had difficulty navigating through these conditions, which could have led to spatial disorientation or an inability to maintain a safe flight path.
  2. Lack of Functional Emergency Equipment: The aircraft’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was non-functional because its battery had expired in 2004, hindering the ability to locate the crash site quickly. The lack of a Cockpit Voice Recorder or Flight Data Recorder also made it difficult to understand the crew’s actions and decisions leading up to the crash.
  3. Navigation Issues: The aircraft made several unexplained turns and altitude changes before the crash, suggesting possible confusion or difficulty in navigation. The report also notes outdated information on radio navigation aids, which could have affected the crew’s ability to navigate safely.
  4. Inadequate Radar Coverage: There was no radar contact with the aircraft at low altitudes, which may have prevented air traffic controllers from providing timely assistance or warnings.

The investigation is ongoing, and the final report would likely provide a more detailed analysis of the contributing factors.