733667-001-005

OTHER

AI Summary

This document details an incident involving Japan Airlines Flight 1628, which reported an unidentified air traffic sighting on November 17, 1986. The flight crew, led by Captain Kenju Terauchi, observed strange lights and an unidentified aircraft during their flight from Reykjavik to Anchorage, Alaska.

Key Findings

- Flight crew reported unidentified air traffic (UAT) during flight. - UAT was visually observed and tracked on radar. - Lights observed were yellow, amber, and green, with no red lights. - UAT maintained position relative to the aircraft for approximately 35 minutes. - Communication with air traffic control experienced static.

OCR Text

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIR TPIANSPORTATION .SECURITY As per telephonic request fran FS00-63, the following are the events which took place on Novanber 17, 1986 and were taken fran my personal IX>tes during the interview: Resporrled to Japan Airlines station office as instructed by Manager (James S. Derry), Alil.r-700. Myself and Jim Derry intervier.-.ied the crew of JAL Flight 1628, which reported the sighting of unidentified air ·traffic. The flight crew consisted of the captain, Kenju Terauchi, First Officer Takanori Tamefuji ~. and Flight Engineer Yoshie Tsukuda. captain Terauchi stated the cargo only flight had departed Reykjavik, Icelaric1.. captain Terauchi stated he first sited (visually) the unidentified air traffic (UAT) in the vacini ty of Potat intersection and the ADIZ. The aircraft he was piloting (B7 4 7) was at flight level 390, airspeed 0. 84 Mach. Captain Terauchi indicated the UAT was in front of his aircraft at a distance of approximately seven·to eight nautical miles for approximately 12 minutes. The Captain stated the distance was indicated by the onl:oard Berrlix color radar. Captain Terauchi stated that while he had a visual on the UAT, he spotted yellow, amber and green lights, and a rotating beacon, but IX> red lights. The Captain said there were two distinct sets of lights, but appeared to be joined together (as fixed to one object). Captian Terauchi ascertained through visual sighting and radar, that the UAT was~ in size to a B747, possibly larger. Captain Terauchi stated that during the visual sighting, the lights of the UAT changed fran a horizontal position to a vertical position and had positioned itself fran in front of the B7 4 7 to port side. The UAT stayed on the port side for approximnately 35 minutes. Captain Terauchi said he was cx::mmmicating with AIID:C personnel during the sighting. The captain stated he requested, and received, pennission to perfo:an a 360 degree turn while in the vacinity of Fairbanks, Alaska, which he had a visual on. Captain Terauchi stated the UAT maintained its position on the port side during the turn. Captain Terauchi stated visual sight of the UAT was lost approximately 40 nautical miles north of Talkeetna, while continuing on to Anchorage. Additional infonnation regarding the flight: Captain Terauchi stated there was static during VHF ccmnunications with the Aim:::c. Captain Terauchi indicated there was erratic novarent with lights of the UAT dur.i.ng the visual contact. Navigation was being perfm::rred by coupling of the on}:x:)ard IlJS' s. INTERVIEWEO/REVI EWEO ON !_bv~ _]. 7-I ~986 __ -__ , AT Anchorage, Alaska -----------·· BY Ronald E. Mickle, FAA S/A -----------· FAA Form 1600-32·112.731 GPO 11•2•1111• FILE NO. ------~---· FOR OFFICIAL USE OHL Y · (Public availobl/lty to&. de- tennln.0 unJer S U. S. C. 552) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEOERAL AVIATION AOMINISTRATION Captain TEPAlX:lil stated that FM MC had indicated to him the presenc:e of a primary target in addition to his aircraft. Addendlmt: Through a confidential source at Japan Airlines, it was stated to me that this was oot the first s i .Jhting of an unidentified aircraft by captain TERAOCm. ~(__ ··~l_? • .:_198~ B~~ • , . . I , FM, ML-700 FAA Form 1600-32-112-731 --__ , ___ , QPO 142•994 "T Anchorage, Alaska ___________ , FILE NO. ----------· FOR OFFICIAL USE OHL Y. (Public ovoilobillty to be tle- termln.0 un<ffr S U. S. C. 552) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL. A\/IATION ACMINISTRATION On Novanber 17, I responded to a call fran the OCC reference an incident involving unidentified air traffic (UAT) follc:Ming JAL flight 1628 into Anchorage. I asked Agent Mickle to :r.eet rne at Anchorage Allport. Upon arriving at /lNC., I met Agent Mickle and Inspector Wright (FS00-63) who had been at the aircraft. All three of us then oro- ceded to JAL operations to intervi~ the crEM. At JAL Operations we met with Captain Terauchi, 1st Officer Tarrefuji, and 2nd Officer Tsukuda along with Mr. Shi.mbashi, the JAL Operations Manager at Anchorage. The three crewrren stated that just after passing rorAT inter- section inl::x:nmd to Anchorage on J529 they observed strange lights ahead of their B-747. These lights changed position after 2 minutes but rana.ined in front of the A/C for another 10 minutes, then rroved to the left side of the A/C. They stated that all they oould see were the lights and at no ti.Ire could they see any craft. However, they did shcM an object on their UX radar at al:xJut 7 miles. The lights were yellow, amber, and green, but no red. The lights were in twJ se:E,Jerate sets which changed position relative to one another. The er~ said that they contacted Aim:c oonf inred that they also had it on radar. Near Fairbanks, the crEM executed a 360° turn and the lights stayed with them off of their left side. They then preceded to Anchorage:~ …

Metadata

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

NARA Source

NAID
733667
File
733667-001-005.pdf
Type
application/pdf

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