Key Points
– JAL Flight 1628, a Boeing 747 cargo freighter, experienced a significant UFO encounter on the evening of November 17, 1986, over remote Alaska.
– Captain Kenju Terauchi, a seasoned pilot with 29 years of experience, reported multiple unidentified objects with bright flashing lights maneuvering around their aircraft.
– The encounter lasted nearly 50 minutes and was tracked on both the plane’s onboard radar and by FAA air traffic control.
– Despite extensive official documentation, including radar data analysis and recorded communications, no conventional explanation for the objects was confirmed.
– The incident gained international attention in 1987 and has been subject to scrutiny by investigators and skeptics.
– FOIA requests for records related to the incident initially yielded responses from the FAA claiming the records had been destroyed, but subsequent efforts located over 1,500 pages of material in the National Archives.
– The rediscovered records provide a detailed account of the encounter, making the JAL 1628 incident one of the most extensively documented UFO encounters in FAA history. Terauchi by Dick Gordon, 1/2/87 [19 Pages, 11MB]
Transcript of interview with First Officer Tamefugi by Peter Beckner 1/5/87 [23 Pages, 14.7MB]
Transcript of interview with Flight Engineer Tsukuba by Pete Beckner 1/15/87 [6 Pages, 4.1MB]
Modified Package for FAA Managers [121 Pages, 94.5MB]
Chronology of Events [4 Pages, 2.9MB]
Flight Path Chart [17 Pages, 17MB]
Selected portions of voice transcripts of JAL 1628 and controllers [9 Pages, 7.1MB]
Transcript of Communications between air traffic control and JAL 1628 [24 Pages, 13.6MB]
FAA form 7230-4 Daily record of Facility Operations, Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center [3 Pages, 5.5MB]
FAA form 7230-10 Position logs [2 Pages, 2.3MB]
Personnel Statement (Air Traffic Control Specialists) [16 Pages, 11.9MB]
Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center computer printout of continuous data recordings (RADAR tracking) [178 Pages, 7.21MB]
Color photos of simulated radar data [18 Pages, 25.8MB]
Color photos of simulated radar data with captions [5 Pages, 5.25MB]
Black and white photos of simulated radar data [13 Pages, 7.1MB]
Explanation of split beacon target [4 Pages, 3.7MB]
News releases, FAA public affairs [9 Pages, 7.8MB]
Record of Communication with FAA administrator, and with U.S. Air Force [6 Pages, 4.5MB]
Cassette tapes of interviews (Audio not digitized) [4 Pages, 4.76MB]
ATC transcripts; flight path chart; personnel statements [13 Pages, 14.3MB]
ATC Transcript; interview with crew; personnel statement; news release [8 Pages, 6.3MB]
News media contacts to FAA [43 Pages, 46.3MB]
News clippings [50 Pages, 4.61MB]
Miscellaneous [17 Pages, 15.8MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 1) [88 Pages, 38.3MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 2) [59 Pages, 27MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 3) [81 Pages, 31.1MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 4) [136 Pages, 81.6MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 5) [86 Pages, 39.6MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 6 and 7) [147 Pages, 52.8MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 8 and 9) [144 Pages, 64.9MB]
Letters about UFO (folder 10) [96 Pages, 35.6MB]
Original Letters Stating Records Destroyed FAA Letters of Correspondence along with ASIAS report [6 Pages, 1.56MB]
Timeline of Events All times below are approximate Alaska Standard Time (UTC−9) on November 17, 1986. This timeline is reconstructed from FAA radar logs, radio transcripts, and crew statements[6][7]:
5:19 PM: The JAL 1628 crew contacts Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) to inquire if there is any traffic at their altitude (FL350). The controller replies that no other aircraft are in the area, but at that same moment Captain Terauchi reports seeing “traffic” with bright lights about 1 mile in front of his 747, at the same altitude[8]. When asked for identifying markings, the pilot says they can only see white and yellow strobe lights on the unknown craft[8]. (Anchorage radar shows no transponder returns there.)
5:25 PM: The unidentified object’s lights now also register on JAL 1628’s onboard weather radar, prompting alarm. The crew reports the object at their 11 o’clock position, roughly 7–8 nautical miles ahead[9]. Anchorage Center still sees nothing on primary radar, so the FAA controller calls the Elmendorf Air Force Base Regional Operations Control Center (ROCC) and asks if they have any radar contact near JAL 1628’s position[9]. 5:26 PM: Controllers at Elmendorf ROCC respond that their radar is picking up a “primary” target (uncorrelated echo with no transponder) in JAL 1628’s 10 o’clock position about 8 miles away[10]. In other words, military radar briefly detects something near the 747. Seconds later, the ROCC calls back to report the unknown target has disappeared from their scope[11].
5:31 PM: Captain Terauchi now gets a closer look at the object. He later describes the UFO’s size as enormous – “a very big one… two times bigger than an aircraft carrier”[2] when he glimpses its silhouette against the evening sky. At this point, concerned by the proximity of the unknown craft, Anchorage Center tells JAL 1628 it can take any evasive action needed. The pilot is promptly cleared to deviate from his assigned route[12] for safety. 5:32 PM: JAL 1628 requests permission to descend from 35,000 feet to 31,000 feet, which Anchorage approves. As the 747 begins dropping altitude, the controller asks if the UFO is descending too. The pilot replies that the object is indeed descending “in formation” with them, maintaining the same distance and relative altitude separation throughout the maneuver[13]. 5:35 PM: The crew, growing nervous, asks for a heading change to get away from the intruder. Anchorage Center approves a turn to heading 210 (southwest). By now the flight is in the vicinity of Fairbanks. Center also queries FAA Fairbanks Approach control to see if they have any radar contact on the unknown. Fairbanks controllers report seeing nothing on their radar scope aside from JAL 1628’s blip[14]. 5:36 PM: To further evaluate the situation, Anchorage instructs JAL 1628 to make a 360-degree turn. The idea is to see if the unknown object will continue to follow the Boeing 747 through a full circle or overshoot. Captain Terauchi executes a standard-rate full turn. During this turn, the object remains pinned at the 747’s left (port) side the entire time[15] – confirming it is not a stationary light or planet but actively maneuvering along with the aircraft. (Terauchi later noted that the UFO “maintained its position on the port side during the turn”[15].) 5:38 PM: Elmendorf ROCC radios back something startling – their radar now shows “a flight of two” targets in the vicinity of JAL 1628[16]. In other words, at this moment the military radar is briefly seeing two objects together (presumably one is JAL 1628 and one is an unknown). ROCC reports that one of the targets is a primary-only return with no transponder. The radar contact with multiple targets is brief; the unknown is lost again shortly after. The Air Force later labels these radar returns as spurious “clutter.”
At 5:39 PM, the JAL crew loses visual contact with the object, and the UFO’s lights are no longer visible. At 5:42 PM, ROCC informs the FAA controller of a primary target that appeared briefly behind and to the right of JAL 1628 before disappearing. Elmendorf’s radar does not detect the unknown object again after this time.
Captain Terauchi announces at 5:44 PM that the UFO has reappeared on the left side of the 747 and is pacing alongside them. At 5:45 PM, Anchorage Center asks a United Airlines flight to approach JAL 1628 to confirm the presence of the object. Despite the JAL pilots still sensing something behind them, both the United Airlines crew and a USAF tanker crew do not see any other object near the JAL aircraft.
At 5:53 PM, JAL 1628 reports that the UFO’s lights have disappeared, and the encounter seems to have ended. The flight lands safely at Anchorage International Airport around 6:20 PM. The crew is interviewed by FAA investigators, who find them to be sober, healthy, and professional.
The incident is documented in various official reports, including FAA incident reports and memos, ATC logs, and radar data analysis from Anchorage Center. The FAA launches an inquiry into the events that occurred over Alaska’s skies on that night. The crew then observed a larger, walnut or Saturn-shaped “mothership” UFO, roughly two times the length of an aircraft carrier, positioned in front of them. This massive craft emitted a bright yellow light from its center, which illuminated the surrounding clouds and the 747 itself. Captain Terauchi estimated it to be about 4 times the size of his aircraft. The crew described the mothership as having a “dome-like” structure on top, with rows of windows or lights along its side. The craft maintained a fixed position in front of the 747, seemingly observing the aircraft as it flew. The crew noted that the mothership appeared to be intelligently controlled, as it adjusted its position in response to the 747’s movements. After a few minutes, the mothership abruptly accelerated away and disappeared from view, leaving the crew stunned by the encounter. The crew of JAL 1628 was alerted to the presence of a third, much larger object in the darkness. Captain Terauchi spotted a massive silhouette against the evening sky, resembling a walnut or shell with a wide, flat bottom and top. The UFO was estimated to be over half a kilometer in size, with no visible wings or tail. Unlike the smaller UFOs, this large craft had faint amber or pale white lights on it. The crew, while unnerved, remained communicative with air traffic control throughout the encounter. They reported no loss of avionics or serious electromagnetic effects but did note some mild static on the radio at one point. The crew’s emotional state was a mix of awe and worry, with Captain Terauchi concerned about a potential mid-air collision risk. Despite no additional eyewitness confirmation, the crew maintains the validity of their experience, describing an encounter with structured, highly-active craft of unknown origin. The incident became a modern legend in aviation circles, gaining media coverage and international attention in December 1986 and January 1987. The crew reported a UFO and the Air Force radar confirmed a target, leading officials to admit that the incident happened, giving it credibility in the press. This was a rare occurrence, as UFO encounters typically do not receive confirmation from government authorities in real-time. Public interest in the story was high, sparking speculation about what the Japanese pilots had seen. Some believed it was a secret Soviet aircraft or military test, while others suspected an extraterrestrial spacecraft, especially with the mention of a “mothership” in Terauchi’s account.
Japan Air Lines took a conservative stance, refraining from officially supporting or denying the crew’s claims. Captain Terauchi faced professional consequences for speaking to the press, as he was temporarily grounded and later removed from flight duty. The airline quietly reinstated him as a pilot, acknowledging that he had followed procedures in reporting the UFO but preferring to downplay the incident to avoid unwanted attention.
The public reaction to the JAL 1628 story was mixed, with some fascinated by it as potential evidence of UFOs and others raising doubts. The FAA’s formal investigation concluded that they were unable to support the UFO hypothesis but could not fully explain what the pilots saw, keeping the mystery alive.
Over the years, the encounter has been featured in numerous UFO books, documentaries, and articles, remaining one of the most widely publicized pilot-UFO encounters to date. The U.S. government’s official response to the incident was cautious, characterizing it as an air traffic incident rather than an extraterrestrial visitation. The FAA concluded that no definite evidence of a second aircraft could be found, attributing the radar anomalies to possible radar interference.
Despite the lack of a definitive explanation, the government acknowledged that the crew had seen something real and did not accuse them of any wrongdoing. A government meeting was held to review the case, with some officials allegedly instructed to keep it secret. Ultimately, the incident was filed away as an unsolved anomaly, with no formal UFO investigation conducted. The FAA did not attempt to discredit the crew in a disrespectful manner; they simply released the information and stated that they could not further investigate. The U.S. Air Force, which had stopped investigating UFO sightings in 1969, also did not pursue the JAL 1628 incident. The official stance was that the crew saw lights and radar blips, but there was no conclusive explanation, so the case was closed.
After the incident, skeptics and debunkers analyzed the case to find a rational explanation. One argument was that the radar blips could have been caused by a known phenomenon called an “uncorrected primary and beacon target,” creating a false second object on radar. Another theory suggested that the crew may have misidentified bright celestial bodies, such as Jupiter and Mars, as UFOs. Captain Terauchi’s history of reporting UFO sightings in the past raised questions about his objectivity and potential bias in interpreting the lights as extraterrestrial spacecraft. Overall, skeptics emphasized the possibility of pilot misperception and psychological factors influencing the crew’s observations. The Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 incident, which occurred in 1986, continues to be a topic of debate among skeptics and believers of UFO encounters. While some suggest alternative explanations such as ice crystals, atmospheric optics, or military aircraft, others argue that the radar data and pilot testimony support the existence of unidentified objects. Philip Klass and Brian Dunning have offered skeptical views, while radar analysts like Dr. Bruce Maccabee believe there is validity to the sightings. Key questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered, including the nature of the objects seen, the sudden disappearance, and the influence of Captain Terauchi’s prior UFO experiences. Despite the lack of a definitive explanation, the case is considered one of the most compelling pilot-UFO sightings and has left a lasting impact on UFO research and aviation reporting protocols. The JAL 1628 encounter continues to be discussed in UFO circles and has been featured in various media outlets, contributing to its status as a legendary UFO incident. He noted that the crew’s descriptions of the clustered lights were very specific and that the radar data, while not definitive, did show something anomalous. Maccabee ultimately opined that JAL 1628 was accompanied for part of its flight by at least two “true UFOs” – meaning real, physical objects of unknown origin. His analysis gave weight to those in the UFO community who view the case as evidence of unconventional technology or even extraterrestrial visitation.
On the other hand, skeptical researchers also use JAL 1628 as a case study on how a compelling UFO report can unravel under scrutiny. In 2014, skeptic Robert Sheaffer revisited the case in Skeptical Inquirer, emphasizing the inconsistencies in the crew’s recollections and how the simplest explanation fits the data best. Brian Dunning’s 2020 podcast on the case framed it as an example of an incident hyped as a classic that completely fell apart once mundane factors are considered.
In popular culture, the Flight 1628 encounter remains one of those fascinating aviation mysteries, serving as a reference point in UFOlogy when discussing pilot sightings or radar-visual cases. The legacy of the case is also evident in how it’s used in advocacy for more UFO transparency. Captain Terauchi eventually returned to flying for JAL and later retired quietly, sticking to his story in interviews years later.
With renewed official interest in UAP by the Pentagon and other agencies, historical cases like JAL Flight 1628 are being reexamined. The incident remains an unsolved event at the intersection of aviation and the unknown, continuing to intrigue, inspire, and perplex. It asks us to grapple with the unknown and take a closer look at our assumptions about what is and isn’t possible in our skies. Until its mysteries are fully resolved, if ever, JAL Flight 1628 will remain a touchstone case prompting open-mindedness in the aviation and scientific communities. The incident involving Japan Airlines Flight 1628 in 1986, as reported by Agent Ronald Mickle, details how the crew observed two sets of lights approximately 7-8 nautical miles ahead of the aircraft for a duration of 10 minutes. The lights then moved to the left side of the aircraft and were described as yellow, amber, and green, with no red, arranged in two distinct clusters that appeared to be connected. Additionally, the object appeared on the plane’s radar 7 miles ahead. The crew’s credibility is highlighted, and it is mentioned that Captain Terauchi had previous UFO sightings.
A comprehensive summary of the incident by the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) provides further details. It describes the flight conditions as a clear night with the setting sun and rising moon. The report mentions two phases of the encounter, including small, high-energy objects with glowing nozzles or thrusters that illuminated the cockpit and heated the captain’s face. It also discusses the appearance of a massive Saturn-shaped mothership estimated to be twice the size of an aircraft carrier, which trailed the 747. The report confirms that the UFOs were tracked on both ground and airborne radar.
In a news article published by United Press International in the Los Angeles Times, Captain Terauchi’s account of the sighting is recounted. He described the UFO as enormous, stating that it was twice the size of an aircraft carrier in comparison to his 747. Two smaller UFOs were also reported, although they did not appear on radar. FAA investigators found the crew to be normal, professional, and rational, with no involvement of drugs or alcohol. The article also includes a lighthearted remark by Terauchi suggesting that the UFO might have been interested in the plane’s French wine cargo.
Renowned UFO skeptic Philip Klass offers a debunking perspective in an investigative article based on the FAA’s released data package. Klass explains the radar analysis that attributed the duplicate blips to radar timing issues and raises concerns about Captain Terauchi’s history as a UFO repeater. He points out inconsistencies between Terauchi’s in-flight statements and later interviews as potential evidence of misperception. Klass concludes that a prosaic explanation involving stars, planets, radar quirks, and psychological factors is the most likely scenario.
Overall, the incident involving Japan Airlines Flight 1628 remains a subject of intrigue and debate within the UFO research community, with various perspectives and analyses contributing to the ongoing discussion.
