A parliamentary ad-hoc committee investigating the June 2024 Chikangawa plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima has resumed its public hearings, according to Nation Online. During a session on July 31, 2026, the committee heard testimony from retired Lieutenant General John Msonthi Jr., the former deputy commander of operations for the Malawi Defence Force. Msonthi clarified that his initial remarks about the missing aircraft on the day of the crash were based on his own assumption and instinct rather than confirmed intelligence.
According to Nyasa Times, Msonthi's testimony appeared to contradict earlier claims by Moses Nthakomwa, an associate of Chilima. Nthakomwa previously told the committee that Msonthi called him on the evening of the crash to provide details about the incident before the official public announcement. Msonthi maintained that he had no evidence or official communication about the wreckage at that time, explaining that he based his concerns on poor weather conditions and prolonged radio silence from the flight crew.
The committee also heard from former National Intelligence Service director general Dokani Ngwira, who testified that his agency had no involvement in organizing the travel arrangements for the late vice president, Nation Online reports. Committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu announced that the panel will reconvene on August 10 and 11 to review the initial phase of the investigation and conduct further witness hearings regarding the day of the fatal flight.