Malawians searching for answers over the Chikangawa tragedy were told on Monday that the age of the military aircraft involved should not automatically be blamed for the disaster.

Appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating the crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, Defence Minister Feston Kaupa defended the 38-year-old Dornier 228, insisting that an aircraft’s safety is determined by its maintenance history, repairs and compliance with aviation standards, not the number of years it has been in service.

He said the Dornier 228, which was acquired in 1986, could still be operational if it had undergone proper maintenance, repairs and refurbishment in line with aviation requirements.

The minister said aircraft are different from ordinary vehicles because their lifespan depends largely on technical management, regular inspections and compliance with safety regulations.

“Forty years is not really much of a problem,” Kaupa said.

He told lawmakers that the critical question was not how old the aircraft was, but whether it received the required maintenance and whether aviation standards were followed throughout its operational life.

“Whether the aircraft went through the regular maintenance which is required, because an aircraft is different from a motor vehicle,” he said.

Kaupa explained that aircraft maintenance involves strict procedures, including replacing parts before they fail once they reach prescribed service limits.

“For aircrafts, in some cases, some parts could be removed even before the aircraft flies, just because the mandatory number of years has elapsed,” he said.

His comments come amid public debate over whether the age of the Dornier 228 contributed to the crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others in Chikangawa Forest on June 10, 2024.

The minister told the committee that establishing whether the aircraft was safe requires examining its maintenance history, technical records and compliance with aviation regulations rather than focusing on age alone.

Kaupa also disclosed that the Malawi Air Force requires increased investment and that government has plans to acquire additional aircraft following the loss of the Dornier 228.

The committee is continuing to examine issues surrounding the aircraft’s operation, maintenance and readiness as it seeks to establish factors that may have contributed to the fatal crash.