By Burnett Munthali
A key witness at the Malawi plane crash inquiry has told the panel that the aircraft which went down in June 2024 was not equipped with a black box.
The testimony was given by Malawi Defense Force General George Jafu, who said, “The plane that crashed did not have a black box.”
General George Jafu went on to explain that the absence of flight recorders is not unusual for the Malawi Defence Force fleet.
“Many military aircraft do not have black boxes,” he stated during proceedings.
The revelation has raised fresh questions about aviation safety protocols and record-keeping within the country’s military air operations.
Investigators are examining whether the lack of onboard data recorders has hampered efforts to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.
The June 2024 incident killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others when the Dornier aircraft went down in Chikangawa Forest.
Without a black box, investigators must rely on witness accounts, maintenance logs, and air traffic communications to reconstruct the flight.
Military officials testifying before the inquiry have previously cited budget constraints and delayed procurement processes as factors affecting the fleet’s maintenance and modernization.
The inquiry is expected to issue recommendations on improving safety standards and ensuring proper documentation for all state aircraft movements.
