By Burnett Munthali
The ongoing inquiry into the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others has unveiled chilling details about the last moments of the ill-fated flight. Ms. Winnie Nyondo, the Special Assistant to the Vice President (Media), provided key evidence to the Commission of Inquiry, shedding light on a harrowing communication she received during the flight.
Ms. Nyondo revealed that at 10:10 AM, she received a message via Telegram from the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Vice President, Inspector Chisomo Chimaneni. The text read: “Too much turbulence.”
This brief yet alarming message would become one of the final updates from the flight before it tragically crashed. According to Ms. Nyondo, she later shared the text on her Facebook account, further emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
In her testimony, Ms. Nyondo disclosed that this was not the first time the ADC and other members of the Vice President’s entourage had communicated with her during flights. Such interactions were apparently routine, indicating a level of comfort and familiarity among the team even in the skies. However, this particular message stands out as a haunting prelude to the disaster.
The mention of turbulence adds another layer to the investigation, as the report increasingly points to adverse weather conditions as a significant factor in the crash. Combined with earlier testimony from Major Selemani, who opted for a direct route to avoid bad weather, this revelation underscores the challenges faced by the flight crew.
Ms. Nyondo’s evidence has sparked further speculation about the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Could more have been done to mitigate the risks posed by the turbulent weather?
Was the turbulence severe enough to warrant an emergency landing or other precautionary measures?
Why was communication from the ADC shared publicly before the situation was fully understood?
As the Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Jabbar Alide, works to finalize its report, testimonies like Ms. Nyondo’s paint a clearer picture of the flight’s tragic final moments. For many, the inquiry’s findings will be pivotal in ensuring accountability and preventing such disasters in the future.
The public remains deeply invested in the #PlaneCrashReport, yearning for answers to bring closure and honor the memory of those who lost their lives in this devastating tragedy.
