Pilot Report Unclassified Complete

733667-001-007-0010

National Archives and Records Administration

Released
Published
Added to archive
Jun 16, 2026
Department
National Archives and Records Administration
Original size
2.6 MB
External ID
ce21f6df13237ec930be07006ed625bcceec456ed661c55352d130df6ee6ec7c
Confidence
85%
Credibility
90%

View original document ↗ hosted at the official government source

Intelligence summary

This document details the personal account of Capt. Kenju Terauchi regarding an encounter with unidentified flying objects while piloting Japan Airlines Flight 1628 over Alaska on November 17, 1986. The account describes extremely bright lights and a gigantic spaceship that followed the aircraft, prompting a request for a change in flight course.

Tags & topics

AviationMilitaryPilot AccountsUAP 1986AlaskaJapan AirlinesSightingUFO

Linked cases

Locations referenced

LocationContextConfidenceSupporting text
Eielson Air Force Base Military Location Unresolved …s confusing to identify the kind of lights. It cannot be a base for the spaceship. Is it a movie? There was something. Oh, yes, it is the Alaska pipeline. The
Alaska on November Sighting Location Unresolved This document details the personal account of Capt. Kenju Terauchi regarding an encounter with unidentified flying objects while piloting Japan Airlines Flight

Extracted timeline

Jun 15, 1986

Document Date (year hint)

Document Date (year hint) for 733667-001-007-0010

Jun 16, 2026

Ingestion Date

Ingestion Date for 733667-001-007-0010

Jun 16, 2026

Document Record Date

Document Record Date for 733667-001-007-0010

Jun 16, 2026

Update Date

Update Date for 733667-001-007-0010

Entities mentioned

Full document text

1,576 characters, transcribed via OCR. Errors reflect the source scan. Compare with the original ↗

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“Page 13° The extremely bright lights reflected on snow on the side of the mountains and seemed even brighter. We wondered if they were Searching something on the ground surface or to (attract? )lead something. The flight above Alaska territory is generally in the daytime and it is confusing to identify the kind of lights. It cannot be a base for the spaceship. Is it a movie? There was something. Oh, yes, it is the Alaska pipeline. The lights must be a pump station for the pipeline. I got it. We arrived at the sky above the Eielson Air Force Base and Fairbanks. It was a clear night. The lights were extremely bright to eyes that were used to the dark. How bright it was! We were just above the bright city lights and we checked the pale white light behind us. Alas! there was a silhouette of . Gigantic spaceship. We must run away quickly! “Anchorage’ i i ' Center. This is JL 1628, requesting a change of course to right’ 45 degrees" It felt like a long time before we received permission. When we checked our rear there was still the ship following us. “This is JL 1628. Again requesting for change the course 45 degrees to the right." We had to get away from that object. “JL 1628. This is the Anchorage Center. We advise you, | continue and take 360 degree turn." “JL 1628, thank you. we will} continue 360 degree turn.” : [Personal statement concerning JAL Flight 1628 sighting of unidentified air traffic, Nov. 17, 1986. Written by Capt. Kenju Terauchi; translated by Sayoko Mimoto, FAA Alaskan Region, Airway Facilities Division. Received by FAA 1/2/87]