SITREP #9: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3210; OCTOBER

UNCLAS LAGOS 001675

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY

TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA
DAKAR PLS PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES
ROME PLS PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI
FOR DS/IP/AF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC EAIR NI ASEC PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP #9: CRASH OF BELLVIEW FLIGHT B3210; OCTOBER
26, 6:00 PM (LOCAL)

REF: A. LAGOS 1662 AND PREVIOUS


B. LAGOS 1674


1. (SBU) Mission's consular response team (CRT) arrived at
the crash site at around 1000 (local time). Per reftel, they
reported that no excavation had begun, and that local police
said excavation would not begin until the NTSB team's
arrival. Security at the site had improved with the Nigerian
Navy securing the crater, and police securing the surrounding
areas.


2. (SBU) CRT reported new equipment had been brought to the
site including a large excavator and bulldozer. Roads and
pathways leading to the site had also been cleared for
greater access. The Red Cross began fumigating the site
yesterday and transported some body parts to the Ota mortuary
for safekeeping. We requested that the police secure
documents found at the site after hearing reports that some
documents including, approach plans for the Lagos airport,
and a set of documents related to the Boeing 737 had been
re-moved from the site.


3. (SBU) Our Public Affairs Section (PAS) plans to issue a
press release on Major Joseph Haydon tomorrow. The local
media reported that the Coalition for Militant Action in the
Niger Delta (COMA) has claimed responsibility for the air
crash in protest to the GON's detention of Niger Delta
People's Vigilant Force (NPDVF) leader Dokubo Asari on
treason charges. This claim appears spurious (see reftel).


4. (SBU) The NTSB team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow
evening, October 27.
BROWNE