SITREP #4: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3-210; TIME:

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001646

SIPDIS

TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA
DAKAR PLS PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES
ROME PLS PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2015
TAGS: CASC EAIR NI ASEC PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP #4: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3-210; TIME:
17:00 (LOCAL)

REF: A. LAGOS 1645


B. LAGOS 1644

C. LAGOS 01643

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (B & D)


1. (U) Mission,s consular response team (CRT) arrived at
the crash site around 1545. The site of the crash is north
of Ota in Ogun State, near a hamlet named Lissa. Coordinates
of the crash site provided to us by the CRT are N06.48.52,
and E003.18.17.


2. (U) Members of the CRT report a substantial impact
crater and significant debris. Previous reports of large
numbers of survivors appear premature and overly hopeful.
Nigerian authorities are now saying that no survivors are
likely.


3. (C) CRT members described the crash scene as chaotic and
disorganized. Nigerian agencies and organizations at the
crash site include the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA),Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA),the
Nigerian Red Cross, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAAN),
and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).


4. (U) Cellular phone coverage in the crash area is very
poor and establishing a connection from the site to Lagos is
extremely difficult. The crash site is inaccessible by
vehicle and is a 30-40 minute walk from the nearest road.


5. (C) Members of the CRT have reported that suspected
petty criminals and thugs are now coming to the site,
probably to pilfer those items left intact after the crash.
Given this lack of security around the site, the CRT will
withdraw from this area before dark.


6. (U) As of this moment, we have not been able to locate
the known AMCIT nor his possessions. The ACS Section is also
actively reviewing the flight manifest for possible AMCITs.
Due to the general imprecision of the flight manifesto (only
surnames and initials of first names are provided),it is
currently impossible to determine conclusively if other
AMCITs were on board, but we cannot discount this possibility
and will continue to do what we can to identify any other
AMCITs.


7. (C) A Lagos State Government insider told us President
Obasanjo was at his Ota, Ogun State residence last night at
the time of the crash.
BROWNE