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Sighting Reports 2002

FAA Denies Freedom of Information Request for Radar Data

(Washington D.C. UFO Sighting - July 26, 2002)


Background: In the early morning hours of Friday, July 26, 2002 NORAD radar scopes displayed a slow moving mysterious object in the Washington D.C. area (near Waldorf, Maryland).  The object did not respond to communications.  As the result two F16 jet fighters were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base to investigate the object.   According to NORAD when the jets were launched from Andrews the strange aircraft faded from the radar screens.  The jets then returned to base.  However, witnesses tell a different story: 

The loud rumble of the jets flying low (below cloud ceiling of 6,000 feet) woke several people.  Witnesses saw a mysterious blue light flying ahead of the jet fighters. 

Perhaps history is repeating itself as July, 2002 was the 50th anniversary of when unidentified radar targets were sited in the Washington D.C. area.  As soon as aircraft were scrambled after the targets they disappeared from the radar scopes.  This happened on two weekends in Washington D.C. in July of 1952. 

A Government Cover-up?

Subsequent to hearing about this sighting which received exposure in the media (CNN and Fox News) I requested radar data from the primary FAA radar stations in the Washington, D.C. area.  My intent was to compare the radar data with eyewitness reports and see if the radar data supported eyewitness testimony. My request was acknowledged, and I was told that the appropriate radar tapes would be set aside.  (Normally the tapes are recycled every two weeks due to cost.)  However, I did not receive any additional information from FAA for several weeks.  Finally I called after about six weeks and was told that the person responsible to fulfill my request was on vacation and therefore the request wouldn't be processed until the employee's return.  (This is against government regulations whereby agencies have to respond to FOIA requests in 20 days.)  The next communication that I received was that the FOIA was transferred to another Region (from Washington D.C. to New York).  The New York office told me that they couldn't respond to my request because the appropriate tapes had been recycled (the very problem that I was trying to avoid).  Needless to say I was getting the "runaround".  Under the guise of incompetence (with apologies galore) the FAA denied me the data.  (I also found out from the FAA FOIA coordinator that several other requests for the same data were on her desk. I also learned through reading an article about the sightings that one researcher was also denied the data.  This researcher was given the excuse that "a flood" destroyed the radar data.)  Another interesting aspect to my request is that the FAA FOIA coordinator kept referring to the July 26, 2002 aircraft scramble as "the incident".  Does this suggest that she was given special instructions about to how handle requests for data regarding the July 26, sighting?

Chronology of a Cover-up:

  • July 28, 2002            -  Submitted FOIA request to FAA, Washington for July 26 radar data.
     

  • July 29, 2002            -  Called FAA in Washington, D.C.  FAA acknowledged FOIA request.
     

  • August 1, 2002         -  FAA acknowledged FOIA request via email.
     

  • August 9, 2002         -  FOIA acknowledged via letter.
     

  • September 17, 2002 -  Called and told FOIA coordinator on vacation until September 24.
     

  • September 24, 2002 -  Called again.  Was told FOIA "in processing".
     

  • October 18, 2002     -  Received voice-mail saying that FOIA reassigned to Eastern Region (NY).
     

  • October 21, 2002     -  Received letter with same message.
     

  • October 23, 2002     -  Called New York and was told data not saved because tapes recycled.
     

  • October 24, 2002     -  Called FAA manager of Evaluations & Investigations Branch  and left
                                        voice-mail.   (Call not returned.)

Concluding Remarks: First I wish to state that several FAA offices have been very helpful, responsive, and cooperative in providing radar data to support UFO investigations.  This is the only office that has been uncooperative.  Were they told to be uncooperative?  Does the fact that NORAD now uses data from FAA primary radars result in the data being classified?  Did NORAD instruct the FAA to not release any radar data?  Perhaps these questions will never be answered.  However, radar data combined with eye witness testimony on that given morning in Washington, D.C. could have revealed some very interesting results.

Suggested Readings:International UFO Reporter, Winter 2002-2003,  The Washington, D.C., Jet Chase of July 26, 2002.

 

 

 
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