US embassy cable - 05LAGOS413

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ANOTHER NEAR CRASH OF CHANCHANGI AIRLINER

Identifier: 05LAGOS413
Wikileaks: View 05LAGOS413 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Consulate Lagos
Created: 2005-03-15 13:43:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: EAIR ATRN 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 000413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DAKAR PASS TO FAA ED JONES 
DOT PASS SMCDERMOTT, CWHUNTER, KSAMPLE 
FAA PASS FRAWLS III 
BRUSSELS PASS TSA GMOORE 
HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER PLEASE PASS TO TSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, ATRN, NI 
SUBJECT: ANOTHER NEAR CRASH OF CHANCHANGI AIRLINER 
 
REFTEL: 04 Lagos 2595 
 
CHANCHANGI BLAMES LANDING ACCIDENT ON WIND AND RAIN; 
PASSENGERS SAFE 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
1. (U) On March 12, Chanchangi Airlines (Nigeria) 
experienced its second crash landing in the last three 
months (reftel).  Chanchangi officials blamed high 
winds and a rain-flooded runway for veering the B727- 
200 some thirty meters off the Abuja airport runway. 
The Saturday flight from Katsina to Abuja's Nnamdi 
Azikiwe International Airport carried roughly 110 
passengers, including the Finnish Ambassador and other 
dignitaries, none of whom was injured in the incident. 
We do not know if any Amcits were on board. 
 
LANDING DETAILS UNCERTAIN AS NCAA INVESTIGATES 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (SBU) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), 
which is investigating the accident, has not released 
an official statement about the cause of the mishap. 
Captain Edward Boyo, founder of Aviation and Allied 
Business magazine and its associated annual conference, 
and CEO of Landover Air Services, asserted to us that 
Chanchangi's latest landing problem may reflect broader 
management or system weaknesses since the winds alone 
that day were not strong enough to blow the aircraft 
off the runway.  Indeed one NCAA official publicly said 
the likely cause of the incident was pilot error, 
though Chanchangi Airlines strongly denies this. 
 
CHANCHANGI UNSAFE? 
------------------ 
 
3. (SBU) Comment.  Another local aviation expert, who 
requested anonymity, told us that Chanchangi Airlines 
is "not up to speed on anything," a conclusion that 
cannot be discounted given recent mishaps.  In the 
meantime, the Nigerian aviation authorities probably 
need to improve their monitoring of Chanchangi and 
other domestic airlines.  End comment. 
 
BROWNE 

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