US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1645

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001645 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED 
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2006 
TAGS: ASEC, CASC, EAIR, NI, PREL 
SUBJECT: SITREP #3: LAGOS BELLEVIEW FLIGHT 3210 CRASH; TIME 
1:00 AM (LOCAL) 
 
REF: A. LAGOS 1643 
 
     B. LAGOS 1644 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne per 1.4 d 
 
1.   Lagos EAC reconvened at 0900 October 23 concerning crash 
of Bellview flight number 3210.  The Nigerian National Civil 
Aviation Authority (NCAA) has publicly released the flight 
manifest (faxed to OpCenter).  Mission has confirmed that the 
name of the USDH on board (ref A) was on the manifest. 
(Note: Nigerian flight manifests are of poor quality and may 
not be accurate.  Airlines frequently record only the surname 
and first initial of the passenger.  Nationality of the 
traveler is not recorded for domestic flights.  End Note.) We 
are checking the names of all passengers listed against AMCIT 
registration records in the consular database. 
 
2.  There are conflicting reports regarding the location of 
the crash site.  Some Nigerian officials identified an area 
between Ilesha, in southern Kwara State and Kisi in Northern 
Oyo State.  Embassy Abuja has received conflicting reports of 
the crash site being in Niger state.  A pilot involved in the 
rescue operation reported there may be as many as 50 
survivors.  This information is not/not confirmed and we have 
heard from different Nigerian authorities that there were 
no/no survivors.  The Minister of Aviation is en route to 
Kisi, Oyo state, to coordinate efforts.  The minister has 
told us that he will likely formally request USG assistance 
after he has visited the crash site. 
 
3.  Post has dispatched a consular response team to the 
Ilesha-Kisi corridor.  The team includes the Consular section 
chief and other consular officers, RMO, RSO, FSN 
Investigator, Legatt, DEA, DAO, Management Officer, and a PAS 
FSN. 
 
4.  Aircraft Details: 1981 Boeing 737-2L9 model, 200 series, 
serial number 22734. 
 
BROWNE