BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima was laid to rest Monday in his village south of the capital, following a funeral where President Lazarus Chakwera called for an independent probe into his death in a plane crash.
Chilima and nine other people died in the plane crash last week in Malawi's northern region of Mzimba.
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The wife of Malawian Vice President Mary Chilima, weeps at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, lays a wreath at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
The clergy conduct a burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Mourners attend the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, lays a wreath at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
The state funeral was held at the Bingu Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday, where Chakwera and other dignitaries paid their final respects to the late vice president.
In his address, Chakwera called for an independent investigation into the crash.
"Our tears are about the desire to know what delayed the search for this plane. … I would like to assure you, Malawians, that this accident will be investigated by an independent expert,” Chakwera said amid boos and jeers from the crowd.
Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had searched for more than 24 hours before the wreckage was discovered in a forest plantation south of Mzuzu.
The plane was on a short flight from Lilongwe to the northern city of Mzuzu when it went missing last Monday morning. Chakwera had said earlier that air traffic controllers had told the plane not to land in Mzuzu because of bad weather and poor visibility and to return to Lilongwe. Air traffic controllers then lost contact with the plane.
Chakwera on Sunday called for unity and patience as the investigations continued, saying, “We need answers, but we must remain calm and supportive of each other during this difficult time.”
He said that the Malawi Defense Force cannot conduct an investigation “that can be credible on its own, which is why we need an independent investigation.” He did not elaborate.
The military rendered a 19-gun salute as the body was laid to rest, followed by a long trumpet post and reveille.
Those who laid wreaths included Chakwera, all of Malawi’s three former presidents and Chilima’s wife, children and relatives.
The Chilima family also called for an independent probe.
“We are grateful to the pathologists who carried out tests to ascertain the deaths, but there is need for a thorough investigation on what exactly happened. Such a probe is important to ensure that such an accident does not happen again,” said Ben Chilima, the late vice-president’s brother.
In another tragic accident, four people died at the funeral on Sunday when a vehicle crashed into bystanders, authorities said.
The wife of Malawian Vice President Mary Chilima, weeps at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, lays a wreath at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
The clergy conduct a burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Mourners attend the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, lays a wreath at the burial service for Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in Nsipe, Malawi, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A decision on the future of the tush push has been pushed until next month.
NFL team owners had been set to vote Tuesday on Green Bay’s proposal to ban the play that’s helped the Philadelphia Eagles win one Super Bowl and reach another, but it was tabled until May.
Team owners approved modifying the kickoff rule, expanding replay assist, revising overtime rules, along with other changes.
Postponing the tush push vote means the debate will continue while teams gather more information. Proponents of the play and those who oppose it presented strong arguments while the league's medical experts expressed safety concerns.
NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay stressed the issues surrounding the play extend beyond safety because there's not enough data to indicate it's dangerous. The league already has said no injuries have been reported on a tush push.
“There are definitely some people that have health and safety concerns, but there’s just as many people that have football concerns,” McKay said. “So I wouldn’t say it was because of one particular health and safety video or discussion. It was much more about the play, the aesthetics of the play, is it part of what football has been traditionally, or is it more of a rugby play? All those types of discussions. Health and safety is still there because of potential but I wouldn’t go beyond that.”
The league prohibited pushing or pulling a player before a rule change in 2004. McKay said the Packers asked to pull the proposal so they could reintroduce the previous language, study it, and bring it up for discussion for a vote at the May meetings.
It takes 24 of 32 votes to approve rule changes.
“It went to many different directions beyond health and safety,” McKay said of the 30 to 40-minute conversation. “Just the traditional-ness of the play, the idea that you could push another player, the idea that we prohibit pushing on the defense but we don’t prohibit it on the offense. It went in all those directions.”
As for changes that did pass, regular-season overtime rules now will match those in the playoffs and both teams will have a chance to get a possession even if the offense scores a touchdown on the opening drive. The proposal was amended to make overtime 10 minutes, not 15 minutes.
Owners also approved a proposal from the NFL Competition Committee to allow replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.
Replay assist could wipe out a foul only if it was incorrectly called, but it will not be used to throw a flag if a penalty wasn't called.
The dynamic kickoff rule becomes permanent, with touchbacks moving to the 35-yard line instead of the 30.
Pittsburgh's proposal to allow teams to have one video or phone call with no more than five prospective unrestricted free agents during the two-day negotiation period was approved. Teams now can make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.
Also, owners approved a rule to permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs (“K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs.
Detroit's proposal for playoff seeding to be based on winning percentage was also tabled for May. The proposal to stop automatic first downs from being awarded on defensive holding and illegal contact penalties didn't pass.
Philadelphia’s version of the quarterback sneak sparked the most intense discussions.
Bills coach Sean McDermott was among those leading the push to get rid of it, even though Buffalo used it more than any team other than the Eagles.
“I feel where I’m most concerned is, even though there is not significant data out there to this point, my biggest concern is the health and safety of the players, first and foremost,” McDermott said Monday. “It’s two things. It’s force, added force, No. 1, and then the posture of the players, being asked to execute that type of play, that’s where my concern comes in. ... I’m not a doctor. I’m not going to get too deep into that situation there, in terms of how much data, how much sample. I don’t think that’s really always the best way to go. There is other data out there that suggests when you’re in a posture like we’re talking about, that can lead to serious injury. I think being responsible and proactive in that regard is the right way to go.”
The Eagles began using the play in short-yardage situations in 2022. Two or three players line up behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and push him forward. Several other teams including the Bills began using it, but no team has matched Philadelphia’s success rate.
“Tough play to stop but then you’re listening to that and the medical side and you probably could go either way with it,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose team lost 40-22 to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. “But I would say if it’s putting a player in a bad position, then you probably have to do something about it. But if it’s not, it’s a heck of a play.”
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FILE - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the goal line Tush Push play during the NFL championship playoff football game against the Washington Commanders, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
