UPDATE ON HELICOPTER MISHAP INVOLVING AMCIT

UNCLAS LAGOS 001535

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/OSAC, DS/IP/ITA
LONDON AND PARIS PASS TO AFRICA WATCHERS
KABUL PASS TO SROSS
DIA/J2 PASS TO GHAYES

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC EPET PGOV NI
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HELICOPTER MISHAP INVOLVING AMCIT

REF: LAGOS 1527


1. (SBU) Pan African Airways has notified us that last
night one body was retrieved from the helicopter that
apparently went down yesterday. The contact believes
the person was a Nigerian employee of Transocean, Inc.
While retrieving the body, the search team thought they
spotted two other bodies, but after retrieving the
first body they were unable to find the other two. They
returned to the site this morning but still could not
locate any bodies or the downed helicopter. Four or
five boats (Chevron contractors),two helicopters, and
one fixed wing aircraft (Pan African Airways) are
continuing the search.


2. (SBU) Post has contacted the American citizen's next
of kin. The family has asked that his name not be
released.

BROWNE