German Agency to Release Interim Report on Chilima Plane Crash in August
The plane crash resulted in the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on 10 June, 2024.
BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany—Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) will release an interim report in late August on the June military plane crash that killed Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, the agency announced Thursday. The report will detail preliminary findings of the fatal incident, writes Winston Mwale.
The report, to be released in both German and English on www.bfu-web.de/EN/, will detail facts gathered about the June 10 incident that killed nine people.
The Do228-202(K) aircraft crashed into a hill during a domestic flight from Lilongwe to Mzuzu in marginal weather conditions, according to the BFU.
The Malawian government requested Germany's assistance in the investigation, said BFU.
BFU said its investigators have recovered a Global Positioning System (GPS) from the wreckage, which is now undergoing analysis at the BFU's laboratory.
"The GPS data from the accident flight and previous flights will be analyzed very thoroughly. This will take some time," the BFU stated.
The agency's team, supported by local experts, has examined the crash site, departure and destination aerodromes, and the aircraft's home base.
The Republic of Malawi delegated the investigation to the BFU, following International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocols.
The BFU emphasized that its investigations are conducted independently of any judicial or administrative proceedings, focusing solely on accident prevention.
A final report, including analysis, conclusions, causes, and potential safety recommendations, will be released at a later date.
The BFU's involvement in this case stems from its mandate to investigate accidents involving aircraft manufactured in Germany.
The Do228-202(K) is a military variant of the Dornier 228, a twin-turboprop utility aircraft designed and manufactured in Germany.
The bureau operates under European Parliament and Council Regulation No. 996/2010 and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Act.
It typically investigates accidents and serious incidents involving civil-registered aircraft, but can also examine military incidents when requested.
The plane crash resulted in the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on 10 June, 2024.