Japan Airlines Flight 1628 Encounter

On November 17, 1986, Japan Airlines cargo flight 1628 encountered a massive UFO while flying over Alaska. The experienced pilot reported being paced by an object the size of two aircraft carriers, an encounter confirmed by FAA radar. The case remains one of the most credible pilot UFO sightings on record.

The Encounter

Captain Kenju Terauchi, an experienced pilot with over 10,000 flight hours, was commanding the Boeing 747 cargo flight from Paris to Tokyo via Alaska. At approximately 5:11 PM, the crew noticed unusual lights ahead.

Initially, Terauchi assumed they were military aircraft. But the lights began performing maneuvers that defied explanation. They stayed with the aircraft despite course changes.

The Craft

Terauchi described the primary object as enormous, far larger than his aircraft. He estimated it was the size of two aircraft carriers. It had rows of lights and appeared to be a solid structure. Two smaller objects accompanied it.

The encounter lasted approximately fifty minutes. At times, the object was so close that Terauchi reported feeling heat from it in the cockpit.

Radar Confirmation

FAA radar at Anchorage detected the objects. Controllers watched as the unknown target shadowed Flight 1628. Military radar also tracked the phenomenon.

The FAA investigated the incident seriously. John Callahan, FAA Division Chief of Accidents and Investigations, later stated that government officials including CIA representatives attended briefings about the case.

Aftermath

Terauchi reported the incident honestly, which effectively ended his career. He was grounded and later reassigned to a desk job. The Japanese airline industry and government distanced themselves from his claims.

Assessment

The JAL 1628 case is significant because of the pilot’s credentials, the duration of the encounter, and the radar confirmation. It represents one of the best-documented pilot UFO encounters and raises questions about why airline crews are often reluctant to report such events.