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, after encountering severe weather. The Dornier 228-202K disappeared and was later found destroyed in the Chikangawa Forest, as confirmed by President Lazarus Chakwera.
Chilima, viewed as a likely candidate for the next presidential contest, had just returned from South Korea, where he attended the Korea-Africa summit. He was en route to the funeral of Malawi’s former justice minister in Mzuzu when the accident occurred. The flight left Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. Poor visibility prevented it from landing in Mzuzu, and the aircraft was diverted back to Lilongwe. Contact with air traffic control was later lost, and the aircraft vanished from radar.
President Chakwera said in a national 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, destroyed with no survivors,” he said, adding that the military had begun transporting the victims’ remains back to the capital.
Despite the aircraft’s solid safety history and an experienced crew, the flight crashed during its return to Lilongwe.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted husband and father, a loyal citizen who served his country with honor, and an exceptional vice president,” Chakwera said in tribute.
Photos circulating online showed military and rescue personnel at the crash site, with debris scattered near the aircraft’s tail section.
Chilima, 51, had previously been a director at Airtel Malawi and led the United Transformation Movement party. He allied with Chakwera in the Tonse Alliance and served as his running mate in the 2020 election. As the 2025 presidential race approached, relations between them cooled amid expectations that Chilima might challenge Chakwera.
Chilima was arrested in 2022 on corruption allegations, but the case was later dropped when the Director of Public Prosecutions moved to discontinue charges. He maintained his innocence throughout.
President Chakwera declared a national day of mourning for the victims, and the remains of Chilima and the others were flown back to Lilongwe.
International help was critical to the search-and-rescue effort, with assistance and specialized equipment from the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed deep concern and provided support, including a Defense C-12 aircraft.
He was survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
In February 2026, President Peter Mutharika ordered a fresh investigation into the military aircraft accident that killed Chilima. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango told Parliament that earlier reports did not fully resolve key questions about the June 10, 2024 crash, prompting the renewed probe.
The original report from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, released in May 2025, found that “marginal weather conditions with poor visibility” led the Dornier 228-202K to strike rising terrain, leaving no survivors. It also noted that radio communications between the crew and Lilongwe air navigation services were not recorded. A commission appointed by then-President Lazarus Chakwera in December 2024 found no signs of foul play, blaming environmental factors and pressured decision-making.
The new inquiry, to be led by a parliamentary commission with international experts, was launched after Mutharika took office following the September 16, 2025 elections. His administration said it would reassess previous conclusions to determine if further action is needed. Members of the United Transformation Movement, founded by the late vice president, have welcomed the reopening of the investigation into the crash that also killed Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, and seven others.