Within Alaska UFOs
Why JAL 1628 Still Divides UFO Researchers
The 1986 JAL 1628 encounter remains Alaska's strongest UFO case because it combined pilot testimony, radar returns, and official attention.
On this page
- What the crew reported over Alaska
- Radar data and official investigation
- Sceptical explanations and unresolved gaps
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Introduction
Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 in November 1986 remains one of the most debated and scrutinised air‑traffic encounters in Alaska’s UFO history. What makes this case stand out for many researchers is not just the vivid testimony of an experienced crew but the radar data linked to the incident and the unusual official response that followed. In this episode, Captain Kenju Terauchi and his two crew members reported seeing and tracking unidentified objects over eastern Alaska for nearly an hour, and some of those reports were reflected—albeit transiently—on government radar systems. Yet in the decades since, careful scrutiny of the radar evidence and official investigations has left the episode unresolved and contested rather than a clear example of unexplained aerial phenomena. [UFO Evidence]ufoevidence.orgUFO EvidenceJapan Air Lines Flight 1628 Over Alaska - Alaska, United States - November 17, 1986 - UFO EvidenceNovember 17, 1986…
What the Crew Reported Over Alaska
On 17 November 1986, Japan Air Lines Flight 1628, a Boeing 747‑200F cargo aircraft, was en route from Paris to Tokyo via Iceland and Anchorage when the three‑person crew reported something unusual above Alaska. Captain Terauchi, First Officer Takanori Tamefuji and Flight Engineer Yoshio Tsukuda reported seeing two smaller objects and a much larger craft alongside and pacing their aircraft as they crossed eastern Alaska at cruise altitude. They described these lights as persistent and manoeuvring with them for around 30–50 minutes, and the captain characterised one of the larger objects as enormous, with some accounts suggesting he compared it in scale to large naval vessels. [UFO Evidence]ufoevidence.orgUFO EvidenceJapan Air Lines Flight 1628 Over Alaska - Alaska, United States - November 17, 1986 - UFO EvidenceNovember 17, 1986…
The crew’s sighting included both visual observations and reports of the objects on the aircraft’s onboard weather radar, which added to the seriousness with which air‑traffic controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially treated the event. When Captain Terauchi reported the sighting to Anchorage flight controllers, they advised him to take evasive action and even permitted a 360‑degree turn to attempt to identify the objects visually. [ISGP Studies]isgp-studies.com1986 11 ap faa investigates jal flight 1628 ufo sightingISGP StudiesFAA investigates JAL Flight 1628 UFO Sighting…
Radar Data and Official Investigation
Unlike many UFO claims that rest solely on anecdote, radar evidence played a central role in how this event was documented and investigated. According to contemporary press accounts and later releases of official material:
- Primary radar returns—the raw reflections from airborne objects—were recorded by the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Centre. Controllers saw intermittent returns near Flight 1628 that were not immediately identifiable as any known aircraft, and these spiked interest in the case. [ISGP Studies]isgp-studies.com1986 11 ap faa investigates jal flight 1628 ufo sightingISGP StudiesFAA investigates JAL Flight 1628 UFO Sighting…
- Initial reports suggested that both FAA and Alaskan Air Force radar systems detected a secondary target pacing the Japanese freighter, although military radar operators later attributed fleeting contacts to clutter or interference rather than a distinct aircraft. [UPI]upi.comController confirms UFO sightingUPIController confirms UFO sighting - UPI ArchivesDecember 30, 1986…
- The FAA compiled radar tapes, printouts and ATC transcripts into an internal case file and forwarded these to Washington, where analysts re‑examined them at the FAA Technical Centre. These records include controllers’ shift logs, radar plots, and raw data that reflect the reactions of radar personnel at the time. [The Black Vault]theblackvault.comthe vault files 1986 alaska jal flight 1628The Black VaultThe Vault Files: 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628 - The Black Vault Case FilesAugust 25, 2025…
This combination of visual pilot reports with ground‑based radar artefacts remains the core of the “radar evidence” that keeps the JAL 1628 episode distinct within Alaska’s UFO literature. Yet the nature and interpretation of those returns are highly disputed among investigators.
Sceptical Explanations and Unresolved Gaps
Despite the initial excitement, the official interpretation of the radar evidence shifted as analysts reviewed the data in detail:
- The FAA’s formal conclusion in early 1987 was that no definitive evidence of a second aircraft could be confirmed. Uncorrelated or “secondary” radar blips were interpreted as common radar anomalies—such as split targets or ghost echoes generated when primary radar reflections and transponder replies did not align precisely. These signals can appear as a second target near a real aircraft, especially on long‑range systems without perfect signal synchronisation. [The Black Vault]theblackvault.comthe vault files 1986 alaska jal flight 1628The Black VaultThe Vault Files: 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628 - The Black Vault Case FilesAugust 25, 2025…
- Independent debunking by aviation and astronomical sceptics points to alternative explanations for the visual sightings, such as misidentification of bright celestial bodies (for example, Jupiter and Mars) combined with normal atmospheric and instrumental effects. [Wikipedia]WikipediaJapan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628
- Further complicating the picture are contradictions in witness statements and discrepancies between what Captain Terauchi reportedly said at the time, later interviews, and how radar artefacts were logged by controllers. These inconsistencies have led even some UFO analysts to treat portions of the case with caution. [Wikipedia]WikipediaJapan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628
Importantly, other aircraft asked to visually or electronically confirm the sightings—such as a United Airlines flight and a U.S. Air Force C‑130 nearby at the time—reported seeing nothing unusual on radar or by eye. This contrast underscores the unresolved nature of the evidence: one experienced crew reported sustained contact, but independent corroboration was limited. [Flying Saucer Bureau]internationalflyingsaucerbureau.comjapan air lines cargo flight 1628 incident november 17 1986Flying Saucer BureauJapan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 incident. November 17, 1986. - International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB)…
Why This Case Still Matters in Alaska’s UFO Record
JAL Flight 1628’s significance within Alaska’s UFO history stems from the combination of professional pilot testimony with radar data and official documentation. Few other incidents in the state involve such an intersection of skilled observers and recorded instrumental traces at the time. That intersection is precisely what draws interest: it elevates the episode from an anecdote to a case with multi‑layered evidentiary strands, even though those strands have not coalesced into a clear, universally accepted explanation. [MYKSS]mykss.comMYKSSJapan Airlines Flight 1628 Alaska UFO Encounter 1986 Eyewitness Testimonies Cross Examined Against Official Records | MYKSS…
At the same time, the episode illustrates the limits of mid‑20th‑century radar technology, the challenges of interpreting ambiguous returns amidst busy airspace, and how subsequent narrative framing can diverge widely—from official scepticism to accounts alleging cover‑ups or concealed data. For researchers and readers exploring Alaska’s UFO patterns, JAL 1628 remains a touchstone for understanding how evidence, interpretation and institutional response interact in high‑profile sightings. [The Black Vault]theblackvault.comThe Black VaultThe Vault Files: 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628 - The Black Vault Case FilesAugust 25, 2025…
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Lines_Cargo_Flight_1628 -
Source: mykss.com
Link: https://mykss.com/en/article/japan-airlines-flight-1628-alaska-ufo-encounter-1986-eyewitness-testimonies-cross-examined-again/Source snippet
MYKSSJapan Airlines Flight 1628 Alaska UFO Encounter 1986 Eyewitness Testimonies Cross Examined Against Official Records | MYKSS...
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Source: isgp-studies.com
Title: 1986 11 ap faa investigates jal flight 1628 ufo sighting
Link: https://isgp-studies.com/misc/UFOs/press-reports/1986-11-ap-faa-investigates-jal-flight-1628-ufo-sightingSource snippet
ISGP StudiesFAA investigates JAL Flight 1628 UFO Sighting...
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Source: upi.com
Title: Controller confirms UFO sighting
Link: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/12/30/Controller-confirms-UFO-sighting/4431536302800/Source snippet
UPIController confirms UFO sighting - UPI ArchivesDecember 30, 1986...
Published: December 30, 1986
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Source: mykss.com
Link: https://mykss.com/en/article/japan-airlines-flight-1628-alaska-ufo-encounter-1986-official-reports-and-declassified-governmen/Source snippet
t Document Index | MYKSSMay 10, 2025 — UFO Major Event Files · Japan Airlines Flight 1628 Alaska UFO Encounter 1986 · Official Reports ·...
Published: May 10, 2025
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Source: upi.com
Link: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/12/31/A-veteran-pilot-whose-UFO-sighting-was-confirmed-on/2755536389200/Source snippet
UPI ArchivesDecember 31, 1986 — Dec. 31, 1986 A VETERAN PILOT WHOSE UFO SIGHTING WAS CONFIRMED ON... ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A veteran pilot...
Published: December 31, 1986
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Source: upi.com
Title: The crew of a Japan Air Lines cargo jet
Link: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/12/29/The-crew-of-a-Japan-Air-Lines-cargo-jet/1302536216400/Source snippet
UPI ArchivesDecember 29, 1986 — Dec. 29, 1986 THE CREW OF A JAPAN AIR LINES CARGO JET... ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The crew of a Japan Air Lin...
Published: December 29, 1986
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekykrn0h7ZESource snippet
Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 - UFO Incident Animation...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk1WLeuEKJg -
Source: ufoevidence.org
Link: https://www.ufoevidence.org/cases/case287.htmSource snippet
UFO EvidenceJapan Air Lines Flight 1628 Over Alaska - Alaska, United States - November 17, 1986 - UFO EvidenceNovember 17, 1986...
Published: November 17, 1986
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Source: theblackvault.com
Title: the vault files 1986 alaska jal flight 1628
Link: https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/the-vault-files-1986-alaska-jal-flight-1628/Source snippet
The Black VaultThe Vault Files: 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628 - The Black Vault Case FilesAugust 25, 2025...
Published: August 25, 2025
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Source: theblackvault.com
Link: https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/the-vault-files-1986-alaska-jal-flight-1628/amp/Source snippet
The Black VaultThe Vault Files: 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628 - The Black Vault Case FilesAugust 25, 2025...
Published: August 25, 2025
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Source: internationalflyingsaucerbureau.com
Title: japan air lines cargo flight 1628 incident november 17 1986
Link: https://www.internationalflyingsaucerbureau.com/japan-air-lines-cargo-flight-1628-incident-november-17-1986/Source snippet
Flying Saucer BureauJapan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 incident. November 17, 1986. - International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB)...
Published: November 17, 1986
Additional References
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Source: ufopulse.com
Title: Captain Kenju Terauchi, an experienced pilot with over 10,000 hours of flight
Link: https://www.ufopulse.com/revisiting-the-1986-japan-airlines-jal-1628-ufo-incident-a-historical-uap-encoun/Source snippet
Revisiting the 1986 Japan Airlines JAL 1628 UFO Incident: A Historical UAP Encounter | UFOPulseMay 6, 2026 — THE FLIGHT PATH AND INITIAL...
Published: May 6, 2026
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxjc4Nm728MSource snippet
Boeing 747 Followed by a UFO | Terrifying Moments over Alaska (An Out of this World Encounter)...
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Source: latest-ufo-sightings.net
Title: 1986 ufo case japan air lines flight 1628
Link: https://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/2014/08/1986-ufo-case-japan-air-lines-flight-1628.htmlSource snippet
1986 UFO Case: Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 • Latest UFO SightingsAugust 30, 2014 — 1986 UFO CASE: JAPAN AIR LINES FLIGHT 1628 August 30...
Published: August 30, 2014
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Source: uapedia.ai
Title: japan airlines flight jal1628 1986
Link: https://uapedia.ai/wiki/japan-airlines-flight-jal1628-1986/Source snippet
Japan Airlines Flight JAL1628 (1986) - UAPediaOctober 13, 2025 — JAPAN AIRLINES FLIGHT JAL1628 (1986) On November 17, 1986 (local Alaska...
Published: October 13, 2025
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Source: xufos.com
Title: Data tapes confiscat
Link: https://xufos.com/jal-1628-1986.phpSource snippet
Japan Airlines Flight 1628: November 17, 1986 – The Mothership Over Alaska – XUFOSFAA INVESTIGATION & RADAR DATA * * * FAA Anchorage Cent...
Published: November 17, 1986
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARd-HTssbgSource snippet
Boeing 747 Followed by a UFO | An Out Of This World Encounter | Japan Air Lines Flight 1628...
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Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7514271/Source snippet
JAPAN AIR LINES FLIGHT 1628 (1986) On 17 November 1986, Japan Air Lines flight 1628 (JAL 1628) was making its way across Alaska on the Re...
Published: November 1986
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Source: bibliotecapleyades.net
Title: UF O Briefing Doc
Link: https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ufo_briefingdocument/1986b.htmSource snippet
UFO Briefing Doc - 1986: JAPAN AIRLINES 747 OVER ALASKA1986: JAPAN AIRLINES 747 OVER ALASKA Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 was near the end...
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Source: nicap.org
Title: This sighting ga
Link: https://www.nicap.org/reports/jal1628-2.htmSource snippet
The Fantastic Flight of JAL1628The Fantastic Flight OF JAL1628 by Bruce Maccabee INTRODUCTION This is the complete report on the UFO sigh...
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Source: ufofiles.fm
Link: https://ufofiles.fm/documents/jal1628-733667-001-005Source snippet
JAL Flight 1628: FAA Investigation File 733667-001 Page 5 (17 NOV 1986) — OTHER — UFOFILES.FMNovember 17, 1986 — JAL FLIGHT 1628: FAA INV...
Published: November 17, 1986
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