By Chisomo Phiri
The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee conducting a fresh inquiry into the 10 June 2024 plane crash in Chikangawa Forest that claimed the lives of former vice-president Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC ) and eight others on Monday begun a series of fact-finding site visits, starting with Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.
The visits are aimed at helping the committee obtain a first-hand understanding of key aviation facilities, the crash-related context, and operational procedures, while also engaging technical personnel at the relevant institutions.
At KIA, the committee met officials from Airport Developments Limited (ADL), the Department of Civil Aviation, Lilongwe Handling Company, and other organisations operating at the airport.
Members received detailed briefings on airport operations before touring key facilities, including the Air Traffic Control unit, where they observed standard operating procedures for aircraft take-off and landing, tracking systems, and emergency response protocols.
KIA officials told the committee that they kept all relevant records linked to the aircraft.
These include operational logs, weather reports, and other technical data that may assist the ongoing inquiry.
On the other hand, ADL spokesperson, Wezi Gondwe Lawrence,told the committee that the organisation is fully cooperated to provide all requested information and documentation to assist the investigation.
Committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu Manda said the team would continue its nationwide fact-finding mission by visiting other relevant sites.
He emphasised that the goal of the inquiry is to ensure a thorough and credible process that meets public expectations.
Nyamilandu also noted that the committee is engaging a range of experts, including personnel from the police and military, to strengthen the quality and depth of evidence being gathered.
He commended the management of ADL and other relevant authorities at KIA for their cooperation and support during the exercise.
The committee is expected to proceed to the crash site in Nthungwa Forest, where it will engage stakeholders including the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Malawi Police Service (MPS), the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the Fire Department, and the Ministry of Health to understand the coordination and response efforts following the accident.
Further visits will include Mzuzu Airport, the intended destination of the aircraft, to assess its operational capacity at the time, as well as Zomba Air Base, where the wreckage of the aircraft is expected to be viewed.
The site visits are intended to guide and strengthen the committee’s work ahead of witness hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.
Earlier inquiries, including a technical assessment by German aircraft manufacturers and a government-appointed commission of inquiry, largely attributed the crash to adverse weather and operational factors, pointing to no foul play.
But the findings failed to extinguish public scepticism, with lingering questions over information management, decision-making and other circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The persistence of those doubts ultimately triggered renewed calls for another inquiry, piling pressure on parliament to demonstrate transparency, independence and professionalism.
President Peter Mutharika ordered the fresh probe in February after Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango cited gaps in three previous inquiries and recommended a new investigation.
Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman announced a 13-member committee tasked to interrogate previous findings, close gaps and deliver closure and report back within 90 days.
