Section B · Institutional whistleblower · FAA (JAL 1628 case)

John Callahan

Former Division Chief, Accidents & Investigations Branch, FAA · witness at the Disclosure Project (2001)

Biography

Former division chief of the FAA's Accidents & Investigations branch. He handled the Japan Airlines 1628 file (November 17, 1986, Alaska), one of the few cases with both ground (ARTCC) and airborne radar confirmation. He says he preserved the radar data and cockpit recording when, by his account, the FAA and CIA wanted the episode to 'have never happened.' At the Disclosure Project's National Press Club event (May 9, 2001) he put that account on the public record.

Why they're here · 2 pieces

  1. 1986

    Expediente FAA del vuelo JAL 1628

    Retention of the radar data and recording against suppression pressure

  2. 2001

    Testimonio en el Disclosure Project (National Press Club)

    Public disclosure of the institutional handling of the JAL 1628 case

Sources

  • The Disclosure Project — testimonio de John Callahan (National Press Club, 2001) — Testimony on the handling of the JAL 1628 case (1986).

Associated cases (1)

25Alaska, U.S..

JAL 1628· 1986

On 17 November 1986, the crew of Japan Airlines cargo flight 1628 followed two groups of…

1986S

Biography summarized from public sources, classified by section (A-F).