An investigative report by German experts has ruled out foul play in the tragic plane crash that killed Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10, 2024. The findings, released on Friday, August 30, 2024, attribute the national tragedy to adverse weather conditions and outdated equipment, dispelling rumors of intentional sabotage.
According to the report, the crash occurred as a result of heavy clouds and severe turbulence, which caused the aircraft to collide with a trunk of a tree. The collision happened at a height of approximately 4.5 meters above ground, with the outer part of the right wing striking the tree.
According to the report, the impact was so significant that part of the wing’s honeycomb structure became embedded in the tree trunk. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft had no significant bank angle at the time of the collision, indicating that the crash was not due to pilot error or mechanical manipulation.
The ill-fated aircraft, manufactured in 1987, was found to have several outdated and poorly maintained components. The report highlights that many of the plane’s key equipment and systems had not been maintained to the necessary standards required for safe flight. This neglect contributed to the failure of critical systems during the flight, further compounding the dangers posed by the turbulent weather conditions.
One of the most damning revelations from the report was the malfunctioning of the aircraft’s emergency transmitter locator, which had been inoperative due to a battery failure since 2004.
This malfunction severely delayed search and rescue efforts, as the faulty equipment hindered the timely location of the crash site.
The interim report also addresses widespread speculation and misinformation that had circulated in the wake of the crash. Some had suggested that the tragedy was orchestrated by individuals with ulterior motives, but the findings of the German investigators have definitively cleared up these rumors. The report confirms that the crash was purely an accident caused by a combination of natural elements and outdated aviation technology.
Read the full report on this link www.bfu-web.de/EN/
