Malawi Airline forced to abandon take-off: Chileka Airport dogs disruption

A Malawian Airlines aircraft was this week forced to abandon take-off at Blantyre-Chileka International Airport  after pilot sighted dogs on the final lap on the runway.

A Malawian Airline plane had to abandon take-off

 A Boeing  737 700 plane looked fairly stable as it made the approach to final lap on the runway but as it was about to make a final lap the pilot got alert of the dogs  which trespassed into the runway through a broken fence and  aborted the take off.

The pilot felt the dogs are not dangerous but could have been inconvenient for the take-off.

Nervous fliers were in panic mode but the cabin crew assured them of their safety.

The plane was scheduled to leave Chileka Airport at 4PM but had to delay for 45 minutes  for airport officials to clear the dogs.

Chileka Airport commandant Dixy Kwatani confirmed the development, saying the plane was later cleared for departure.

Kwatani said the safety of passengers and crew is of utmost importance and would not  be compromised.  

But Chileka Airport has been facing a lot of problems  including  a fire engine crisis as its only engine develops faults almost every week because it is old.

According to civil aviation requirements, a plane cannot depart or land at the airport without a functional fire engine, the development has compelled the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to use Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Blantyre City Council (BCC) engines.

 Ministry of Transport and Public Works spokesperson James Chakwera confirmed that the only fire engine at the airport develops faults regularly as the machine is old.

Chakwera said government is in the process of procuring new fire engines for both Chileka and Kamuzu International Airport through developmental partners- estimated at about K300 million per fire engine

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17 replies on “Malawi Airline forced to abandon take-off: Chileka Airport dogs disruption”

  1. Actually, this is not the first time that dogs have been spotted looking for dead animals killed in the runway. Two months ago, we landed and the plane nearly hit another dog. pilots can bear witness.

    Why cant government order hunters to go and kill these dogs? Are you waiting for tragedy to befall us first? This is shameful.

    Inu a DDP, if you don’t know how to manage affairs of the country, please pack up and go in peace!

    As for fire engine, are we serious as a country that we cant buy an engine worthy 300 million kwacha? Cant govt instruct Ministry of Finance to source 300 million kwacha to buy an engine? Koma ndalama muziyika mmatumba mwanu. Peter alone got K145 million for Karim in kick-backs. That is half the cost of engine. What about the 2.8 million litters fuel stolen at ESCOM?

    SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. \last Friday Malawian Airlines flight from Harare-Lilongwe Blantyre was delayed at Lilongwe airport because the Pilot wanted to pick up her daughter from Lilongwe town. Passengers had to wait for three hours. Sad- Imagine the passengers travelling from Harare to Blantyre. Such exciting things can happen only in Malawi. Malawian airlines will close shop just like Air Malawi.

  3. Banana Republic!!! Who is managing this airport? Are they not aware of broken fence? What have they done and what are they doing about it? Typical Malawian Management. This is not to laugh about. It’s incompetence. Did you see the public toilets at Chileka Airport? What a disgrace and its supposed to be a window to our nation for investors. Abale why are we so complacent?

  4. how many times Malawi how many times. The huge sums derailed to corruption can these monies fund just one engine please? You do not cease to shame us where ver we are Shame on admistrators of our common pool cofers

  5. The Director is not vibrant we dont know why this Director is being spared what he knows is travelling for the benefit of himself.He has never ever visited the airport premises sites to see the condition of the airports he has never ever addressed the staff either Mzuzu Chileka KIA how can he know the situation in the Airports.
    Staff of these airports are more than slaves cause if they happen to complain its an interdiction. So far the only development and achievement of the Director is interdictions.
    In rating he is one of the worst directors in DCA.
    Check the vehicles and buildings in these airport it wil tell you that aviation industry is dead and burried.
    They are rumours that he is spared because of the good relationship he has with the minister of transport. The other vehicle of DCA is most of the times used for building his house projects and with the wife.

  6. But this DPP government has to go, anzathu ku Gatwick are being disrupted by drones, ife zoona disruption ikhala kuti galu waphwasula mpanda ku Airport? Shame on APM.

        1. “broken fence” who fixes it the dogs or the govt? funding baba keep up please or go back to school!!

    1. BigMan kkkkkkk koma ndiye mukhaulatu chifukwa DPP is not going anywhere. DPP is in government to stay. Ndale zanuzo zomangochita pankhani ina iliyonse ya negative. Pongofunilapo kuchitirapo campaign kuti DPP iipe. Munya muona chaka chamawa musegula mmimba. Anthu omangochita comment pakakhala ngani yoipa, agalu inu odula mipanda.

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