FAA Investigating Skydiving Death Of RI Police Officer And National Guardsman Christopher Callan

DANIELSON, Conn. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is investigating a skydiving accident at a Connecticut airport that left a Rhode Island police officer and National Guardsman dead.

East Greenwich, Rhode Island police confirmed that Sgt. Christopher Callan, a 15-year veteran of the department and a second shift supervisor, died following what the Connecticut State Police described as a "rough landing on the airfield" at Danielson Airport on Saturday morning.

Callan was taken to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, where he was pronounced dead.

The FAA said it will inspect Callan's parachute rigging to determine if it was packed properly by the appropriate person.

Callan had served with the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets, police said on Facebook.

In a Facebook posting, the Rhode Island National Guard said Callan had "served his country and state honorably for more than 30 years," including 14 years with the guard.

"The entire RING family mourns his loss and holds all of 1st Sgt. Callan's family, friends and brothers and sisters in uniform, both in the RING and the East Greenwich Police Department, in their thoughts," the guard said.

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