CLASSIFIED BY POL/C BRIAN BROWNE. REASONS: 1.5 (B, D & G).
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: In response to Reftel, Mission
officers visited four Nigerian airports June 1 and did
not see the missing 727 aircraft. It is unlikely the
aircraft could have landed in Nigeria without drawing
considerable GON attention. Since the disappearance of
the aircraft, DATT has remained in contact with the
Nigerian Defense Intelligence Agency (NDIA) and senior
Nigerian officials. Nigeria-based IRS Airlines
Chairman Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu, informed Ambassador Jeter
that Aerospace Sales and Leasing of Jacksonville, FL,
owned the missing aircraft, tail number N844AA and
that the principal of Aerospace was Maury Joseph.
Rabiu told the Ambassador that Joseph was probably in
South Africa, and his telephone number was 27-73-315-
0565. Rabiu, whose IRS Airlines' colors are similar to
the silver/white fuselage and blue and white stripe of
the aircraft, offered to show Post any documents
regarding prior ownership of aircraft in the IRS
fleet. END SUMMARY.
MISSION VISITS FOUR AIRPORTS
----------------------------
2. (C) The Mission sent officers to Abuja, Kaduna,
Kano and Lagos airports Sunday June 1. (Domestic
Airlines do not fly before 8 AM on Sundays). Officers
did not see an airplane fitting the description of the
missing 727, but collected the following tail numbers
of all 727 aircraft on the ground at that time:
--Abuja Airport: One 727 at the domestic terminal,
owned by Nigerian-based Chanchangi Airlines, tail
number 5NB-CF. No 727 aircraft at the international
terminal.
--Kaduna Airport: No 727 aircraft on tarmac.
--Kano Airport: One 727 located on the shared
international and domestic tarmac, owned by Nigerian-
based Freedom Air, tail number 5N-BCY. (NOTE: A
member of Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS)
informed Emboff that the aircraft had not flown in
over a year. END NOTE).
--Lagos International and Domestic Airports: One 727
aircraft located at the domestic terminal, owned by
IRS Airlines, tail number 5N-RIR . No 727 aircraft at
the international terminal.
NIGERIA'S CLOSE COOPERATION
---------------------------
3. (S/NF) On May 27, the DATT contacted the Nigerian
Defense Intelligence Agency (NDIA) about the missing
aircraft and met with the Chief of Defense
Intelligence. The DATT contacted the Directors of
Operations and Foreign Liaison, NDIA, and the Military
Commander of Lagos International Airport when
subsequent reports indicated the aircraft might be in
Lagos or Kano. All his contacts had no information
that the airplane had landed in Nigeria or entered its
airspace.
IRS AIRLINES CHAIRMAN WILLING TO ASSIST
---------------------------------------
4. (S/NF) The Ambassador spoke with Rabiu Isyaku
Rabiu, Chairman of Nigerian-based IRS Airlines, May
31. Rabiu was aware of plane and mentioned key names.
Rabiu said that Aerospace Sales and Leasing of
Jacksonville, FL, owned the airplane. Rabiu
identified Maury Joseph as the principal owner of
Aerospace. Joseph was probably in South Africa and
his telephone number was 27-73-315-0565, Rabiu told
the Ambassador. AN IRS 727, tail number 5N-AKR, was
currently in Johannesburg for maintenance, Rabiu
stated. Rabiu recalled that Aerospace had previously
tried to sell IRS an aircraft with tail number N880AA
but that IRS did not purchase the airplane because it
was too old. To disprove his connection with the
airplane, Rabiu offered to show us any documentation
regarding the prior ownership of aircraft in the IRS
fleet.
COMMENT
-------
5. (S/NF) Post does not think that the missing 727
aircraft could have entered Nigerian airspace and
landed at one of four major airports, Port Harcourt
International Airport or smaller domestic airports
without attracting immediate GON attention. At each
of the visited airports, GON officials (SSS, Ministry
of Aviation, FAAN and military officers) were aware of
the missing airplane; the GON had earlier in the week
alerted airport and security officials, to immediately
impound the airplane and arrest its crew if it landed
at any Nigerian Airport. END COMMENT
JETER
| NIGERIA: NO SIGN OF MISSING 727 | |
2003 June 2, 18:11 (Monday) |
03ABUJA975_a |
SECRET,NOFORN |
SECRET,NOFORN |
|
-- Not Assigned -- |
4478 |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TEXT ONLINE |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TE - Telegram (cable) |
|
-- N/A or Blank -- -- N/A or Blank -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
|
-- N/A or Blank -- |
|
Content
Raw content
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000975
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR S/CT KATY GORE AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/13
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, EAIR, PGOV, NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NO SIGN OF MISSING 727
REF: STATE 143140
CLASSIFIED BY POL/C BRIAN BROWNE. REASONS: 1.5 (B, D & G).
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: In response to Reftel, Mission
officers visited four Nigerian airports June 1 and did
not see the missing 727 aircraft. It is unlikely the
aircraft could have landed in Nigeria without drawing
considerable GON attention. Since the disappearance of
the aircraft, DATT has remained in contact with the
Nigerian Defense Intelligence Agency (NDIA) and senior
Nigerian officials. Nigeria-based IRS Airlines
Chairman Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu, informed Ambassador Jeter
that Aerospace Sales and Leasing of Jacksonville, FL,
owned the missing aircraft, tail number N844AA and
that the principal of Aerospace was Maury Joseph.
Rabiu told the Ambassador that Joseph was probably in
South Africa, and his telephone number was 27-73-315-
0565. Rabiu, whose IRS Airlines' colors are similar to
the silver/white fuselage and blue and white stripe of
the aircraft, offered to show Post any documents
regarding prior ownership of aircraft in the IRS
fleet. END SUMMARY.
MISSION VISITS FOUR AIRPORTS
----------------------------
2. (C) The Mission sent officers to Abuja, Kaduna,
Kano and Lagos airports Sunday June 1. (Domestic
Airlines do not fly before 8 AM on Sundays). Officers
did not see an airplane fitting the description of the
missing 727, but collected the following tail numbers
of all 727 aircraft on the ground at that time:
--Abuja Airport: One 727 at the domestic terminal,
owned by Nigerian-based Chanchangi Airlines, tail
number 5NB-CF. No 727 aircraft at the international
terminal.
--Kaduna Airport: No 727 aircraft on tarmac.
--Kano Airport: One 727 located on the shared
international and domestic tarmac, owned by Nigerian-
based Freedom Air, tail number 5N-BCY. (NOTE: A
member of Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS)
informed Emboff that the aircraft had not flown in
over a year. END NOTE).
--Lagos International and Domestic Airports: One 727
aircraft located at the domestic terminal, owned by
IRS Airlines, tail number 5N-RIR . No 727 aircraft at
the international terminal.
NIGERIA'S CLOSE COOPERATION
---------------------------
3. (S/NF) On May 27, the DATT contacted the Nigerian
Defense Intelligence Agency (NDIA) about the missing
aircraft and met with the Chief of Defense
Intelligence. The DATT contacted the Directors of
Operations and Foreign Liaison, NDIA, and the Military
Commander of Lagos International Airport when
subsequent reports indicated the aircraft might be in
Lagos or Kano. All his contacts had no information
that the airplane had landed in Nigeria or entered its
airspace.
IRS AIRLINES CHAIRMAN WILLING TO ASSIST
---------------------------------------
4. (S/NF) The Ambassador spoke with Rabiu Isyaku
Rabiu, Chairman of Nigerian-based IRS Airlines, May
31. Rabiu was aware of plane and mentioned key names.
Rabiu said that Aerospace Sales and Leasing of
Jacksonville, FL, owned the airplane. Rabiu
identified Maury Joseph as the principal owner of
Aerospace. Joseph was probably in South Africa and
his telephone number was 27-73-315-0565, Rabiu told
the Ambassador. AN IRS 727, tail number 5N-AKR, was
currently in Johannesburg for maintenance, Rabiu
stated. Rabiu recalled that Aerospace had previously
tried to sell IRS an aircraft with tail number N880AA
but that IRS did not purchase the airplane because it
was too old. To disprove his connection with the
airplane, Rabiu offered to show us any documentation
regarding the prior ownership of aircraft in the IRS
fleet.
COMMENT
-------
5. (S/NF) Post does not think that the missing 727
aircraft could have entered Nigerian airspace and
landed at one of four major airports, Port Harcourt
International Airport or smaller domestic airports
without attracting immediate GON attention. At each
of the visited airports, GON officials (SSS, Ministry
of Aviation, FAAN and military officers) were aware of
the missing airplane; the GON had earlier in the week
alerted airport and security officials, to immediately
impound the airplane and arrest its crew if it landed
at any Nigerian Airport. END COMMENT
JETER
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