Pilot Report Unclassified Complete

733667-001-007-0011

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
f65c201155987c60db64d0d3c5b61780d85f2d47096b83dcf61f69caa272f220
Confidence
85%
Credibility
90%

View original document ↗ hosted at the official government source

Intelligence summary

This document details the account of Captain Kenju Terauchi regarding an unidentified object that followed Japan Airlines Flight 1628 during its flight on November 17, 1986. The crew reported the object maintaining formation with their aircraft and expressed concern about its intentions.

Tags & topics

Air traffic controlAviation SafetyUAP 1986 IncidentJapan AirlinesPilot ReportUFO

Linked cases

Extracted timeline

Jun 15, 1986

Document Date (year hint)

Document Date (year hint) for 733667-001-007-0011

Jun 16, 2026

Ingestion Date

Ingestion Date for 733667-001-007-0011

Jun 16, 2026

Document Record Date

Document Record Date for 733667-001-007-0011

Jun 16, 2026

Update Date

Update Date for 733667-001-007-0011

Entities mentioned

Full document text

1,519 characters, transcribed via OCR. Errors reflect the source scan. Compare with the original ↗

Suggest a correction
“Page 14° It was too slow to circle in the auto-pilot mode; therefore, we switched to the manual mode and set to turn right on a 30 degrees bank. We looked to our right forward but did not see any light. We were relieved, thinking the object may have left us and returned to the level flight but when we checked to our rear the object was still there in exactly the same place. “Anchorage Center, This is JL 1628. The object follows us in formation. We request a change in altitude, 3,100 feet, yes, 3,100 feet." “This is the Anchorage Center, JL 1628, ascend to 3,100 feet. The consumption of fuel during this flight was almost as expected but there was only 3,800 pounds left and as such was not enough for extra flying for running around. We have got to arrive at Anchorage. “Anchorage Center, this is JL 1628. We request permission for the direct flight to Talkeetna." "JL1628, this is the Anchorage Center, we authorize the direct flight to Talkeetna." We checked behind us again. The ship was in formation and ascending with us. We wondered and feared as to their purpose. "JL 1628, this is the Anchorage Center. Would you like to request scramble for confirmation?" "The Anchorage Center, this is JL 1628. We would not request scramble." We turned the offer down quickly. [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]