Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK667
2008-06-26 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

MUTED KYRGYZ REACTION TO FUEL JETTISONING INCIDENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000667 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: MUTED KYRGYZ REACTION TO FUEL JETTISONING INCIDENT

BISHKEK 00000667 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: A/DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000667

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: MUTED KYRGYZ REACTION TO FUEL JETTISONING INCIDENT

BISHKEK 00000667 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: A/DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. On June 21, a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft
from Manas Coalition Airbase experienced an in-flight
emergency that resulted in the jettisoning of fuel prior to
returning to Manas for a safe landing. Approximately 54,000
pounds of fuel was dumped at an altitude of over 21,000 feet
above ground level in a mountainous area east of Osh in
southern Kyrgyzstan. The Ambassador and Manas Airbase
leadership informed Kyrgyz government officials of the
incident on June 23, and the Base issued a detailed press
statement subsequent to informing the government. While the
Foreign Minister reacted angrily and suggested that the U.S.
should offer to compensate Kyrgyzstan for the damage, other
Kyrgyz officials have reacted more calmly. The media
reporting has been mostly fact-based, drawing from the
Airbase's press release. End Summary.

Plane Dumps Fuel in Emergency Situation
--------------


2. (SBU) On June 21 at approximately 1920 local time, a
KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the Manas Coalition Airbase
experienced a critical loss of cabin pressure, followed by
smoke and fumes in the cockpit. This situation occurred
about an hour into a re-fueling mission. Based on the nature
of the emergency and in accordance with Air Force safety
procedures, the aircrew decided to land the aircraft as soon
as possible. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was
too heavy to land, so the crew jettisoned 54,000 lbs. of fuel
in the mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan east of Osh. The
dumping occurred at an altitude of over 21,000 feet above
ground level. (Note: We understand that offloading fuel at
this high altitude ensures that it is vaporized before it can
hit the ground. End Note.) The crew and plane returned
safely to Manas. This is the first fuel dump by a Coalition
aircraft since September 2005.


3. (C) Shortly after the incident, Base personnel informed
the embassy that there had been a fuel dump, while they
continued to gather information about the incident over the
weekend. According to the Base commander, the normal

procedure is for an aircrew to seek the base commander's
permission for the fuel dump, but this was not done in this
case as the crew believed it faced a critical situation.

Kyrgyz Government Informed
--------------


4. (C) On June 23, the Ambassador and Base leadership
informed agencies and ministries of the Kyrgyz government
about the incident. Kyrgyz officials have been particularly
sensitive to the issue of fuel dumping, repeatedly alleging
that there has been environmental damage to crops and
livestock as a result of previous dumps. In June 2007, the
Kyrgyz proposed to amend the Protocol covering the Base to
provide for payments for any fuel dumped, as well as
compensation for any environmental damage; the U.S. side did
not agree to these proposals.


5. (C) The Ambassador first spoke to Foreign Minister
Karabayev, who did not take the news well. Karabayev was not
open to the argument that science shows that fuel jettisoned
at high altitudes causes no damage. Karabayev noted that in
a number of previous meetings the Kyrgyz side had said we
need to have a mechanism to review these types of events. He
said that the U.S. side should come up with a compensation
proposal -- and do so right away rather than waiting and
"dragging out" the issue. He also said that, in Kyrgyzstan,
even in the mountains there are people who can be badly
affected by the incident.


6. (C) The Ambassador also spoke to Minister of Defense
Kalyev, who reacted more calmly. He said that the incident

BISHKEK 00000667 002.2 OF 002


raises a number of concerns and is an "ecological problem."
He said the Kyrgyz government would take a look at the
incident, and he hoped there would be a U.S. investigation
into what happened. He said there should be an "ecological
monitoring" of the area, and he said he was sure that
everything would be done in accordance with the Base
Agreement. DATT and Base personnel informed KAN (Kyrgyz Air
Navigation),Ministry of Defense liaison officers, and the
Kyrgyz State Agency for Environmental Protection and
Forestry; they were generally appreciative of the
information.

Relatively Calm Media Reaction
--------------


7. (SBU) After government officials had been informed, the
Base issued a press statement on the incident the afternoon
of June 23. The initial reports from the local press, which
is often critical of the Base and its operations, were calm
and fact-based, drawing primarily from the press statement.


8. (SBU) In the days following the incident, there have been
a few comments in the press, distorting the facts but
generally praising the Base for being open about the
incident. Rossiyskaya Gazeta's June 25 Central Asian
supplement covered the incident with a big photo of an air
re-fueling process over a populated area and commented, "One
should notice the speed of the Airbase Command in its comment
on the flight incident. Let's remember that this was not the
first case when American pilots dumped fuel when flying over
populated Kyrgyz territories. But in previous cases, NATO
commanders preferred to keep silent or limited themselves to
brief after-the-fact reports."


9. (U) The June 25 Kyrgyz supplement to Moscow-based
Argumenty i Fakty commented, "Ironically, the unpleasant
incident happened right after the scandal about an alleged
expansion of the Airbase. . . . To the Base commander's
credit, they immediately informed Kyrgyz officials about the
case, as well as about the fact that it happened over a
remote mountain place. This time the Kyrgyz south was
unlucky because (the dump) happened there."


10. (U) The Kyrgyz insert to Moscow-based Moskovskiy
Komsomolets introduced its report with the comment,
"Opponents of the American Airbase got another reason to
chant again,'Yankee Go Home.' . . . No harm was done to
people's health, but the Americans concealed the
environmental harm. . . . Many times some politicians and
public figures have tried to close the base due to the damage
it does to the environment, but with no result."


11. (C) Comment: While the initial relatively calm,
fact-based reaction in the press and from most government
officials is positive, we expect the issue of fuel dumping --
and compensation for any incidents -- to continue to be on
the Kyrgyz government agenda. Also, only a week ago the
local papers were filled with (inaccurate) negative stories
about plans to expand the Airbase, and we expect that the
fuel dumping incident will continue to be discussed in the
press.
YOVANOVITCH