US embassy cable - 04LAGOS1527

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POTENTIAL HELICOPTER MISHAP INVOLVING AMCIT

Identifier: 04LAGOS1527
Wikileaks: View 04LAGOS1527 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Consulate Lagos
Created: 2004-07-26 17:38:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: CASC ASEC EPET PGOV NI
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS LAGOS 001527 
 
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: POTENTIAL HELICOPTER MISHAP INVOLVING AMCIT 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: According to preliminary but credible 
reports, a Pan African Airlines helicopter with an 
American citizen and three other people on board lost 
radio contact at 2:30 a.m. local time after leaving a 
deepwater oil rig. Air and surface searches are being 
conducted but thus far there has been no contact with 
or sighting of the helicopter. Prior to losing contact 
the helicopter apparently reported mechanical 
difficulties. According to our best information, the 
Amcit on board was one of the helicopter pilots. Pan 
African's parent company, Air Logistics, has gone to 
the Amcit's home and has remained with the family 
during the crisis. There is no indication of any foul 
play. Post is tracking the incident and working to 
confirm details. End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Chevron has reported to post that a Pan 
African Airlines medevac helicopter with two pilots 
picked up an injured Nigerian employee of Transocean, 
Inc. and another passenger from the Setco deepwater rig 
early this morning. (Transocean is drilling a deepwater 
well for Chevron at the Setco rig.) Chevron reported 
that the helicopter was headed to Port Harcourt but 
signaled it was returning to the rig apparently due to 
mechanical problems. The last radio message from the 
helicopter was received at 2:30 a.m. local time. 
 
3. (SBU) Pan African has reported that one of the two 
pilots was an American. Pan African's parent company, 
Air Logistics, has gone to the Amcit's home and has 
remained with the family during the crisis. 
 
4. (SBU) We have been informed that air and surface 
searches are being conducted. The Nigerian government 
is not actively involved in the searches, but Chevron 
reports that the upstream subsidiary of NNPC has been 
notified of the incident. Chevron reports that there is 
no indication of criminal activity. 
 
BROWNE 

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