Pilot Report
Unclassified Complete
733667-001-007-0011
National Archives and Records Administration
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.
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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 ↗
“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]