USA: FAA denies UAP records request citing classified status
After more than three years, the aviation authority rejected the transparency petition, claiming all materials remain protected under national security exemptions. The refusal suggests deeper involvement by the agency's safety division in sensitive aerial phenomena investigations than previously acknowledged.
Background
On September 23, 2024, the regulator issued a formal refusal to release any documentation related to its engagement with the aerial phenomena task force. Citing Exemption 1 of the transparency statute and Executive Order 13526, the agency asserted that all responsive records constitute classified national security information. The denial highlights the role of the agency's hazardous materials and aviation security division in handling anomalous incidents, revealing potential classified contributions that contrast with the unclassified nature of the 2021 public report. The investigative platform has since filed an administrative appeal and submitted a new inquiry specifically targeting the safety division's records. Via TheBlackVault.com (FOIA).