733667-001-003-0034

OTHER

AI Summary

This document discusses a UFO sighting reported by the crew of a Japan Airlines flight on November 17, 1986. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer observed a stream-like radar target that was interpreted as a UFO, which was later suggested to be an echo from ice crystals. The FAA made data regarding the incident available, countering claims of government cover-ups.

Key Findings

- The pilot reported a UFO sighting, which was later identified as possibly being Jupiter. - The 747's weather radar detected a stream-like target, described as green, indicating weak radar echoes. - The crew agreed that a large craft would have produced a stronger radar echo, displayed in red. - The FAA provided data on the incident, contradicting claims of government secrecy regarding UFOs. - Capt. Terauchi had prior unidentified aircraft sightings according to a confidential source.

OCR Text

3 disappear--as reported by the pilot. When the pilot searched the skies: for the UFO and spotted the very bright Jupiter, further to the left of the original "UFOs," he could easily conclude it was the same UFO, even though the copilot and flight engineer would later tell the FAA that it looked distinctly different. 9. During the initial sighting, the 747's weather radar detected and displayed a "target" slightly to the left and ata distance of about eight miles--in roughly the location that the amber-white lights were visible. .The flight engineer described this airborne radar target as "not a dot, but stream-like." And his description is confirmed by a sketch drawn by the pilot for the FAA shortly after JAL landed at Anchorage. The 747's weather radar is equipped with a color display to alert the pilot to the strength of the radar echo, with the strongest echoes shown in red and the weakest in green. All three crew members agree that the "UFO" stream-like blip was green--which would be appropriate for an echo from thin clouds of ice crystals. The echo froma giant craft only eight miles distant would certainly be very strong and would have been displayed in red. 10. Claims made by some UFOlogists that the U.S. Government tries to withhold or cover-up information about UFOs and UFO Sightings is denied by the action of the FAA in making available, at modest cost, all data in its possession involving the Nov. 17, 1986, JAL "UFO" incident. li. The FAA even included in its data pack a brief note by one of its officials which says: "Through a confidential source at Japan Airlines, it was stated to me that this was not the first Sighting of an unidentified aircraft by Capt. Terauchi." Persons interested in obtaining some or all elements of the FAA data pack can contact: Paul Steucke, Public Affairs Officer FAA Alaskan Region | 701 "C" St., Box 14 Anchorage, Alaska 99513 (907) 271-5296 Philip J. Klass, Chairman CSICOP UFO Subcommittee 404 "N" St. Southwest Washington D.C. 20024 (202) 554-5901 March 27, 1987

Metadata

Agency
—
Classification
UNCLASSIFIED
Department
National Archives and Records Administration
Confidence85
Credibility90

NARA Source

NAID
733667
File
733667-001-003-0034.jpg
Type
image/jpeg

No machine-readable OCR text for this asset. Photographs without captions may have no extractable text.

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