Kamuzu International Airport

Kamuzu International Airport, also known as Lilongwe International Airport, is an international airport serving Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi.

History
The airport was built in 1977 by the Nello L. Teer Company, taking over most airline operations from Old Lilongwe Airport (FWLE) some 6 km west of the city centre. It is owned by Airport Developments Limited.

In August 2014 the Government of Malawi requested assistance from the Government of Japan to rehabilitate the passenger terminal buildings and install a more advanced air surveillance system, ADS-B at the airport. The rehabilitation project was scheduled to run for 33 months and included expansion of the International terminal, rehabilitation of the existing terminal building, and installation of security and aerial surveillance systems. The work was conducted by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and in April 2019 the new terminal buildings were handed over to the Government of Malawi.

Facilities
The airport is at an elevation of 4035 ft above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 14/32 with an asphalt surface measuring 3540 x.

Accidents and incidents
Kamuzu International Airport has been the site of a small number of aviation related incidents since its opening.

2023

 * 22 August: A Cessna 150 operating for Eastrise Aviation, a pilot training institute based at KIA, was conducting a training flight with two occupants outbound from KIA. Approximately 14 minutes after takeoff, the pilot contacted air traffic control and informed them that they were experiencing an emergency and requested clearance for immediate landing. Clearance was granted and the pilot attempted to glide towards the airport but crashed about 1.2 kilometers short of the runway. Both occupants escaped unharmed and there were no casualties. The subsequent investigation determined that the cause of the accident was engine failure. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft produced a thudding sound as it crashed and was covered in a cloud of dust. The aircraft suffered damage to its nose, wheels, propellers and wings but the cabin was intact.