Society

James Kallstrom, FBI agent who investigated TWA Flight 800 explosion, dies at 78

Tuesday, July 6, 2021
James Kallstrom, FBI agent who led TWA Flight 800 investigation, dies.
James Kallstrom, the FBI agent who ran the criminal investigation into the mid air explosion of TWA Flight 800, has died.

He was 78.

As assistant FBI Director in Charge of the New York office, Kallstrom led an exhaustive investigation into the July 1996 disaster, which ultimately ruled out a bomb, missile, or sabotage.

James Kallstrom, assistant director of the FBI, holds a sheet of aluminum in front of the reconstructed fragments of TWA Flight 800 in Calverton, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1997

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan


Conspiracy theories linger, however.

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Kallstrom himself initially suspected the plane was downed by a bomb or missile and deployed more than 1,000 agents into a 16-month investigation that ultimately disproved that theory.

In doing so, he became the face of the investigation, appearing at more than 90 news conferences as well as memorial services for the victims.

He died just days before the July 17 25th anniversary of the Flight 800 explosion.

The Europe-bound Boeing 747 exploded and crashed off Long Island shortly after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 230 people on board.
The Boeing 747 exploded mid-air and landed off Long Island's east shoreline on July 17, 1996.none
The Boeing 747 exploded mid-air and landed off Long Island's east shoreline on July 17, 1996.none
Investigators combed waters for debris from the plane, in an attempt to determine what happened.none
Investigators combed waters for debris from the plane, in an attempt to determine what happened.none
Friday, July 17, marks 19 years since the crash of TWA Flight 800, which killed 230 people. The NTSB ruled that overheated fuel tank vapors caused the explosion.none
The NTSB pieced together the debris collected to re-create the Boeing 747.none
NTSB investigators determined after a four-year investigation that the explosion was caused by overheated fuel tank vapors, and not a bomb or missile.none
Debris was collected from around the crash area.none
More than 200 witnesses said they saw a streak of light heading toward the plane before it broke apart.none
The NTSB issued a 400-page report on the accident, accompanied by more than 17,000 pages of supporting material.none
A memorial site for the 230 victims was created in Smithpoint, N.Y.none
A memorial site for the 230 victims was created in Smithpoint, N.Y.none
Despite the NTSB's report, conspiracy theorists say a bomb or missile still can't be ruled out.none
Friday, July 17, marks 19 years since the crash of TWA Flight 800, which killed 230 people. The NTSB ruled that overheated fuel tank vapors caused the explosion.none
Officials said an examination of witness statements showed that what people thought might be a missile was actually the trajectory of the plane after the fiery explosion.none
A memorial was taken out the crash site where 230 poeple died in TWA Flight 800.none

Kallstrom was also featured on Eyewitness News' First Responder Friday in 2019.

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