733667-001-031-0030

OCR Text

Q US. Department Office of Puble Affa ice of Public Affairs of Transportation | Alaskan Region a 701 C Street, Box 14 poet Aviation Anchorage, Alaska 99513 Administration (907) 271-5296 News: December 29, 1986 (6:19 pm) 0219 AKST 0225 0226 0227 0231 0232 0235 0236 0238 The following is a chronological summary of the alleged aircraft sightings by Japan Airlines Flight 1628, on November 18, 1986: (November 17, 1986 Alaska Time) All times listed are approximate UTC unless otherwise specified. The pilot of JL1628 requested traffic information from the ZAN Sector 15 controller. When the controller advised there was no traffic in the vicinity, JL1628 responded that they had same direction traffic, approximately 1 mile in front, and it appeared to be at their altitude. When queried about any identifiable markings, the pilot responded that they could only see white and yellow strobes. JL1628 informed ZAN that the traffic was now visible on their radar, in their 11 o'clock position at 8 miles. ZAN contacted the Military Regional Operations Control Center, (ROCC), and asked if they were receiving any radar returns near the position of JL1628. The ROCC advised that they were receiving a primary radar return in JL1628's 10 o'clock position at 8 miles. The ROCC contacted ZAN to advise they were no longer receiving any radar returns in the vicinity of JL1628. JL1628 advised that the “plane” was “quite big", at which time the ZAN controller approved any course deviations needed to avoid the traffic. JL1628 requested and received a descent from FL350 to FL310. When asked if the traffic was descending also, the pilot stated it was descending “in formation”. JL1628 requested and received a heading change to two one zero. The aircraft was now in the vicinity of Fairbanks and ZAN contacted Fairbanks Approach Control asking if they had any radar returns near JL1628's position. The Fairbanks Controller advised they did not. JL1628 was issued a 360 degree turn and asked to inform ZAN if the traffic stayed with then. The ROCC called ZAN advising they had confirmed a "flight of two” in JL1628's position. They advised they had some “other equipment watching this", and one was a primary target only. Os WOE