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