NIGERIA: GON BEGINS KANO AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001486

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO FAA, NTSB AND DOT
DOT FOR KEVIN SAMPLE AND B ALLEN
STATE ALSO FOR AF, AF/W, AF/PAS
NSC FOR AF DIRECTOR MICHAEL MILLER


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2012
TAGS: EAIR CASC PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GON BEGINS KANO AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION;
REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE

REF: ABUJA 1429


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER; REASONS 1.5(B) AND
(D)



1. This cable contains an action request. See paragraph 8.




2.(U) Summary: In the aftermath of the May 4 air tragedy in
Kano, the GON grounded all BAC1-11 aircraft until a full
investigation is completed. A final death toll has not been
tallied and we may never know the exact number of people who
died as a result of the crash. Working with Consular
Affairs, we determined that no American Citizens were killed
in the crash. Reports indicate that both "black boxes" have
been found, but not yet examined. The GON has established a
panel to investigate the incident. The United States, Great
Britain and, according to media reports, France have been
asked to assist in the investigation. End Summary.


3.(U) At least five Nigerian airlines are affected by the GON
ban on flying BAC1-11 enacted immediately after the crash.
Executive Airline Services (EAS),owner of the crashed plane,
is effectively grounded; its two other craft are BAC1-11.
The GON also announced that over the next five years it will
be gradually taking offline all aircraft over 22 years.
Aviation Minister Chikwe insists this measure has been on the
books since last month and that it is not a reaction to the
May 4 crash.


4.(U) Chikwe also announced the formation of a panel to
investigate the crash. According to media reports the panel
will consist of eight Nigerian officials and one
representative each from the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO),the United States Department of
Transportation, the British Civil Aviation Authority and the
French Civil Aviation Authority. The panel is expected to
determine the cause(s) of the accident and assess the
operation of Nigeria's private aviation industry with regard
to safety and maintenance of aircraft. (Comment: The idea of
forming the panel is good. However, in attempting to give
the public the impression that they are doing all they can
and that the panel will have the requisite expertise, the
Ministry jumped the gun in claiming the USG has agreed to
furnish an expert. We clearly have not made such a
commitment; however, we will attempt to clarify this with the
Ministry. End comment.)


5.(C) Unfortunately, it has not taken long for some people to
find ways to make political capital from the tragedy. The
House of Representatives has tasked its Committee on Aviation
to conduct a full investigation. Meanwhile a National
Assembly member from Kano introduced a measure calling for
the GON to rebuild all homes damaged by the crash.


6.(C) The United States and Great Britain have both been
asked to help the GON conduct its investigation of the crash.
UK High Commissioner Philip Thomas told Ambassador Jeter
that, like us, the UK had been asked by Minister Chikwe for
assistance investigating the crash and in establishing a
better regulatory regime for the purchase and maintenance of
commercial aircraft. Thomas has forwarded the request to
London but said that the request was too general. While the
UK wanted to be helpful, he remarked Nigeria would need to
make a more detailed request specifically outlining the help
they required from the UK before London would formally agree
to participate.


7.(C)Ambassador Jeter agreed with The High Commissioner that
the GON request was vague. The vagueness is a function of the
lack of expertise on how to proceed in the face of such a
tragedy. The Ambassador suggested to the High Commissioner
that an appropriate interim step might be to send an expert
or two to help the Nigerians develop a precise scope of work
for the investigative panel and to help it precisely
delineate the assistance wanted from the U.S., UK and perhaps
others. Thomas liked this approach, stating that he would
relay the suggestion to London as well. (Note: Thomas did
not appear to be aware that ICAO protocols may give the UK an
affirmative responsibility to assist with the investigation
since the aircraft was of British manufacture. However,
according to media reports EAS has a maintenance agreement
with Tarom, the Romanian firm which sold EAS the BC1-11
fleet, so the responsibility may lie with Bucharest. End
note.)



8. (U) Action Request: The Embassy requests that Washington
consider sending one or two persons to Nigeria to assist the
GON to develop a scope of work for the Kano crash
investigations panel. Post also requests guidance from DOT
to respond to a separate Ministry of Aviation request for
technical assistance in areas of airline purchasing, safety,
and maintenance oversight. We understand that this type of
assistance is already being provided under the USAID-funded
Nigerian Transportation Assistance Program, but the Ministry
has requested additional, expedited assistance in this area.


JETER