Japan Airlines Flight 1628 Encounter

On November 17, 1986, a Japan Airlines cargo flight over Alaska encountered a massive UFO that paced the aircraft for over half an hour. The pilot’s detailed report, combined with radar confirmation, made this one of the most significant UFO cases involving commercial aviation.

The Flight

Captain Kenju Terauchi, a veteran with 29 years of experience, was commanding a Boeing 747 cargo flight from Paris to Tokyo via Anchorage. Over Alaska, in clear weather, the crew noticed two bright lights ahead of them.

The Encounter

The lights approached rapidly and then paced the aircraft. Terauchi described them as displaying formations of rectangular arrays of lights. Behind the two smaller objects, he observed an enormous dark shape he estimated to be the size of two aircraft carriers. The object’s lights illuminated the cockpit.

Radar Confirmation

Anchorage air traffic control confirmed a primary radar return in the aircraft’s vicinity. A military radar facility also tracked an unknown object. When Terauchi requested permission to deviate from his course, the object followed.

The Investigation

The FAA conducted an extensive investigation. The case was initially dismissed, but FAA officials later released documents supporting Terauchi’s account. Skeptics suggested the pilot misidentified Jupiter or lights from nearby military aircraft.

Aftermath

Terauchi was grounded for several months after the incident, officially for routine reasons but widely believed to be punishment for speaking publicly. He never retracted his account.

Assessment

The JAL 1628 case is significant for the witness’s credentials, the extended duration of the encounter, and the radar confirmation. Captain Terauchi maintained his account despite professional consequences.