SITREP #5: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3210; OCTOBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001648 SIPDIS TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA DAKAR PLS PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES ROME PLS PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2006 TAGS: CASC EAIR NI ASEC PREL SUBJECT: SITREP #5: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3210; OCTOBER 24, 10:30 AM (LOCAL) REF: LAGOS 1646 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne per 1.4 b ¶1. (SBU/NF) Mission's consular response team (CRT) returned to Lagos at approximately 19:30 yesterday, October 23. Per reftel, they reported no likely survivors and an unstable security environment around the crash scene. The crash site is not a very large area. The CRT did not see large sections of the aircraft still intact and reported the air was full with the smell of fuel. A CRT has been deployed to the crash site again today. ¶2. (C) Post continues to try to ascertain whether there were AMCITs on board in addition to the one known AMCIT passenger. The CRT has ruled out several individuals by cross-checking AMCIT registration records against identifying information (full first and last names) found at the crash site. The consular section will call the few other individuals registered on our local database whose names are similar to those on the imprecise manifest list for flight B2310. ¶3. (SBU) Our Public Affairs Section continues to monitor the Nigerian media concerning this event. ¶4. (SBU/NF) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has forwarded a general request for USG forensic, investigative, and other technical assistance today (faxed to opcenter). There are conflicting reports as to whether the flight data recorders have been recovered. Below is the text of the letter: The Ambassador Embassy of the United States of America Aso Drive Abuja 24th October, 2005 Your Excellency, Sir We wish to refer to the telephone conversation between the Honorable Minister of Aviation and the Consul General of the Embassy of the United States of America in Lagos. Following this discussion, we wish to formally request for technical assistance in our determined effort to move the aviation industry forward especially in the light of the recent accident involving a Boeing 737 aircraft in our country. Please accept Sir, the assurance of our highest regards. Signed Engineer F.C. Onyeyiri Director - General End Text ¶5. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja. BROWNE