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NARA-JAL1628-733667-001-007 — JAL 1628: written statement by Capt. Terauchi (English translation by Sakoyo Mimoto)

File: NARA-JAL1628-733667-001-007
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Incident date: Nov 1986
Location: Alaska
File type: PDF

Cited in: JAL 1628, 1986: a captain's account and the FAA's radar review

Captain Kenju Terauchi's written statement on the 17 November 1986 sighting, in an English translation by Sakoyo Mimoto. From the FAA series "Information Releases Relating to Unidentified Flying Object" (National Archives, NAID 40586988).

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Page 1

Meeting the Future by Kenju Terauchi

Jt(~ fV' J.."'" i'eb

l!.7

5 . ,'11 , "' 0 l'"O
Page 1.

6t- F ~A

In{ ll..~&.)

Once upon a time if a hunter saw a t.v., how did he describe it
to other people? My experience was similar to this. The north
of Alaska in mid-November you cannot even see the sun; the
darkness continues until the middle of March. Flight JL 1628,
B747 jumbo cargo encountered two spaceships and a Mother ship
about SO minutes above Alaska.
There was no danger but it
created many questions that a human being cannot answer.
Page 2.
So I am writing that experience down here. In mid-October, I was
excited to hear the special flight. This special flight was to
import special French wine from Iceland to Anchorage for
approximately a 6 hour and 20 minute flight. It is an extremely
short flight compared to most flights. It takes about two-thirds
normal flight hours. There are only two landings at Kefurabik
(sp.?) International Airport.
Page 3.
This particular flight was planned to stop at Iceland and increase
cargo items rather than flying direct · from Paris to Anchorage.
However, since being wintertime if the condition of the runway
was poor, we may have to reduce the cargo, therefore, everyone
was paying special attention to the amount of cargo. The
temperature of Kefurabik Airport in November is approximately
maximum of 3 degrees C. and the lowest was minus 3 degree C.
Page 4.
Six of us Japan Airline employees arrived at Kefurabik Airport at
midnight and three people welcomed us as usual. We headed on to
a new hotel. The bed was extremely small. I understood why
the down blanket was only 135 centimeters. We stayed only about
17 hours. The weather became good and the runway was not frozen
and we left the Kefurabik at 2042.
Page 16.
Co-employees are married, have children and are young. I am
pleased that nothing happened. The ending of this encounter was
very well. We worried because we do not know the purpose of the
spaceship, but there is no immediate danger. What do you think
about our experience? I hope we humans will meet them in the near
future and confirm my experience.
[Per s ona l s t a t ement c once rning JAL Flight 1628 sighting of
unidentified air traffic , Nov. 17, 1986 . Writt en by Capt.
Kenj u Terauchi; t rans l ated by Sayoko Mimoto , FAA Alas kan Region,
Air way Faci l i t ies Div i sion. Received by FAA 1/2 / 87 ]

Page 2

MEETING THE FUTURE

~Page

took

f liaht

Chule(sp?) where a U.S.

course Southeast of Greenland direct to
military base

is by

crossing the great

icy highland midwest of Greenland.
The flight

above Greenland,

under a nearly full moon which

was raising on

the

side

visibility for

the niaht flight.

riaht

the unstable air current
hours, but

front

that

our

aircraft helped

The fliaht was smooth despite

shook

the

plane

for

about two

was still a rather stressless flight as compared to a

passenger flight.
We aimed towards Single Point, on the north coast of Canada,
by

passing

through

the

Canadian

north polar regions and down

southwest along an Arctic flight course.
time when

It was 4:25 p.m. Alaska

we reported our location to Edmonton Center from above

Single Point, Canada (68 degrees 55
137 degrees

15 minutes

.sliu:k perhaps

because the

minutes the

West Longitude) .
moon was

North Latitude,
had become pitch-

directly behind

us near the

horizon. We received an order from Edmonton Center that we should
contact the

[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]

Page 3

~Page

Anchorage

Center

when

Territorial Air begins.
approximately

890

reach above Pottat(sp?) where Alaska

Pottat locates approximately 480 miles,

kilometers,

North-northeast of Anchorage, 67

degrees 56 minutes North Latitude, 141 degrees West Longitude.
We began the communication
5:05 p.m.

The

flight course

with the
we had

direct to Ft. Yukon and Jet 125
(sp?), and

to Anchorage.

Anchorage Center about

acknowledged was Jet 529,

via Nenana,

Talkeetna, Chaiger

The Anchorage Center ordered us to fly

direct to Talkeetna,

provided us transponder codes and placed us

radar

scope

the

same

time.

The strange phenomenon

happened immediately 'after we began left rotation, following the
order of taking the direct flight course.
There was an unidentifiable light ahead of the
set the

rotation. We

course toward Talkeetna and began level flight.

saw lights that looked

front, 2,000

meters) below

feet (600

aircraft

lights,

of 35,000

feet (10,600

degrees left

us, moving exactly in the

same direction and with the same speed as
the altitude

Then we

we were.

were at

meters), flying speed

900 kilometer per hour to 910 kilometer per hour.

was

Page 4

We ignored the lights,

thinking probably

they were special

missioned aircrafts or two f i&hters because we did not notice the
lights while communication (with

the

Anchorage

Center?)

or on

prior visual inspection.

However, the position of the lights had

not

changed

even

attention.

after

The First

few

minutes

and

Officer, Ta.rneto(?),

that

called our

called the Anchorage

Center and asked to report to us if there were any aircraft other
than ours
were no

in the
other

reported back

area.

The Anchorage Center told us that there

aircraft
that we

the

North

were seeing

area.

We immediately

aircraft li&hts.

They again

reported that there was no military aircraft and the ground radar
did not

show any

aircraft but

us.

They also asked us several

times if there were clouds near our altitudes.
spotty clouds
upper air,

near the

and the

quite pleasant.

mountain below

air current

Perhaps

saw thin and

us, no clouds in mid-to-

was steady

and conditions were

the controllers were concerned that an

increased use of improved lazer beams

using clouds

was creating

moving images.

[Personal statement concerning JAL Flight 1628 sighting of
unidentified air traffic, Nov. 17, 1986. Written by Capt.
Kenju Terauchi; translated by Sayoko Mimoto, ~AA Alaskan
Region, Airway Facilities Division. Received by FAA 1/2/87]

Page 5

We kept

observing the lighte below us in left front, thinking it

was ridiculous to have lazer beam teeting at the end
area.

Then the

two lights

of a

tundr~

began to move in a manner different

from ordinary aircraft maneuvers, like two bear cubs playing with
each

other.

continued

the

flight South along a straight

course since the distance from the lights was far enough
and

their

danger.

movement

was

not

extreme

I thought perhaps it is one

and taking

a photo

might help

and we felt no immediate

of those

things called UFO

to identify the object later.

asked to bring forward my camera bag that was placed
of the

cockpit and

began to

the plane was flying
moving etrangely.

was
I

take a picture.

unchanged but

had ASA

100 film

not close.

and I gave up taking a

Then

photo.

in the rear

were etill

in my camera, mainly to
the object

lens kept adjusting and never could set a focus.
focus to manual-focus and pressed the

The area in which

the lights

take scenery and had auto-focus on, aimed at

shutter would

from us

but the

I changed auto-

shutter but

this time the

our aircraft started to vibrate
I placed

my camera

back in the

camera bag and concentrated on observing the lights.

Page 6

was

about

seven

minutes since we began paying

attention to the lights, most unexpectedly two spaceships stopped
in front

of our

face, shooting

off liahts.

shined brightly and I felt warm in the
jets was

the result

to kill

face.

inertia of

front of

us.

Perhaps firing of

their quick high speed

maneuver, but the ships appeared as if they
place in

The inside cockpit

were stopped

in one

Then three to seven seconds later a fire

like from jet engines stopped and became a small circle of lights
as they

began to

fly in

level flight

were, showin& numerous numbers
center

area

invisible.

of
The

of exhaust

the

ship

where

middle

the

occasionally stream

of lights,

to left and from left to riaht.
500 feet

to 1000

feet in

at the

below

body

same speed as we

pipes.

However, the

an engine might be was

the

ship

sparked an

like a charcoal fire, from right
Its shape

front of

was a

square, flying

us, very slightly higher in

altitude than us, its size was about the same size as the body of
a DC-8

jet, and

with numerous exhaust pipes.

The firing of the

exhaust jets varied, perhaps

maintain

stronger

some

became weaker than others, but

than

others

and

balance,

some became

seemed controlled automatically.
We

did

not

feel

threatened

danger

because

spaceship

[Personal statement concerning JAL Flight 1628 sighting of
unidentified air traffic, Nov. 17, 1986. Written by Capt.
Kenju Terauchi; translated by Sayoko Mimoto, F(\A Alaskan
Region, Airway Facilities Division. Received by FAA 1/2/87]

the

Page 7

~Page

10~

moved ao

euddenly.

We probably

would have felt more in dangez

and would

have been

prepared to

escape if

ehaking

unsteadily

were

unable

to atop themselves.

impossible for any man-made machine to
in front

of a

jumbo jet

make a

It ia

sudden appearance

that is flying 810 kilometers per hour

and to move along in a formation paralleling
ships moved

the spaceehips were

in formation

for about

our aircraft.

The

three to five minutes, then
'

two ehips moved forward
altitude as

we were,

this action to the
breathtaken.
receivi~g

The

line,

again

slightly

40 degrees to our left.

Anchorage Center.
VHF

higher i~

We did not report

Honestly,

we were simply

communication, both in transmitting and

were extremely difficult

for

ten

fifteen minutes

while the little ships came close to us and often interfered with
communication from the Anchorage Center; however,
conditions

became

just

good

communication

as soon as the ships left us.

There were no abnormalities in the equipment or the aircraft.

have no idea why they came so close to us.
Then

again,

there

was

pale

white

flat

light on the

along with
!
us, in the same direction and same speed and in the same altitude
direction where the ships flew away, moving in a line

as we were.

Page 8

Again, we be&an communicating with the Anchorage Center.
that we

could see a light in the 10 o'clock position at the same

altitude and wondered if they could see anything
The

Anchorage

radar.

Center

replied

that

they

I thought it would be impossible

aircraft radar

in their radar.

see nothing in their

to find

anything on an

if a large ground radar did not show anything but

I judged the distance of the object visually and it
far. I

was not very

set the digital weather radar distance in 20 miles, radar

angle to horizon.
and a

We said

There it was, on

round object

had

the screen,

appeared in

kilometers to 15 kilometers) away,

seven or

where

the

a large, green,
eight miles (13
direction

of the

object was. We reported to the Anchorage Center that our aircraft
radar caught the object within seven or eight miles in 10 o'clock
position.

We asked

if they

could catch it on the ground radar

but did not seem they could at all.
when an

Normally

it appears

in red

aircraft radar catches another aircraft. I wonder if the
spaceship is

were communicating

with the Anchorage Center, the two pale white

lights gradually moved to
back 30

degrees as

different from

the left

side and

ours.

While we

metal used in the

to left diagonally

if they understood our conversation and then

when they were beside our aircraft they totally

disappeared from

our radar.

Page 9

~Page

12~

When they

were in

slightly higher

front of

in altitude

us, the

than we

ehips were positioned

were, but

now they placed

themselves eliahtly below the horizon where it was moet difficult
for us to eee.

The

distance between

miles to eight miles visually.

ue was

still about seven

When we started to see Ft. Yukon

diagonally below us at the right, the sun was setting down in the
painting

Southwest,

sky

the

approximately two to three

slightly

millimeters and

but the east side was still pitch dark.

gave a

red

bit of light

Far in front of us there

were lights increasing from the U.S.

Military Eielson

Base

were

and

Fairbanks.

The

lights

was too

they

the

liahts

whether

spaceships that appeared in front of
eeemed that

us a

dark to identify
were

the same two

few minutes

ago.

we were flying in the liahter side and eave them the

advantage of being on the dark side.
began to

not

Air Force

still following us at

exactly the same distance; however, it
only

stripe,

We had no fears

worry since we had no idea for their purpose.

so far but
When the

lights from the Eielson Air Force Base and Fairbanks became clear
and

bright,

two

very

bright lights appeared suddenly from the

North from a belt of lights, perhaps four or five mountains away.

Page 10

'"'Page 13 ...
The extremely bright liahts reflected on snow on the side of
We wondered if they were

the mountains and seemed even briehter.
searching something
something.

on the

around surface

or to (attract?)lead

The flight above Alaska territory is eenerally in the

daytime and it is confusing to identify the
cannot be

a base

something.

for the

spaceship.

We arrived

at the

lights.

Is it a movie?

Oh, yes, it is the Alaska pipeline.

be a pump station for the pipeline.
j

kind of

There was

The lights must

I got it.

sky above the Eielson Air Force Base and

Fairbanks.

It was a clear

bright to

eyes that

night.

were used

The

lights

to the dark.

were extremely

How bright it was!

We were just above the bright city lights and we checked the pale
white

light

behind

us.

Alas!

gigantic spaceship.

must

there

run

was

away

a silhouette of a '

quickly!

"Anchorage :
I

1628, requesting a change of course to right!

Center. This

is JL

45 degrees"

permission.

When we

felt

long

checked our

time

before

we received

rear there was still the ship~

l
I

following us.
course 45
object.

"This is JL 1628.

degrees to

the right."

Again requesting for change the ;
We had to get away from that

"JL 1628. This is the Anchorage Center.

We advise you,

continue and take 360 degree turn." "JL 1628, thank you.
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, F.AA Alaskan
Region, Airway Facilities Division. Received by FAA 1/2/87]

we will

Page 11

"Page 14"
It was too slow to circle in the auto-pilot mode; therefore,
we switched

to the

de1rees bank.
light.

manual mode

and set

right on a 30

to turn

We looked to our right forward but did not see any

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.
request

change

The object follows us in formation.

3,100

altitude,

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
arrive at

Anchorage.

running

around.

"Anchorage Center,

this is

have

JL 1628.

request permission for the direct fliaht to Talkeetna."
this is

the Anchorage

Talkeetna. ··

got to
We

"JL1628,

Center, we authorize the direct flight to

checked

behind

again.

The

ship

was in

We wondered and feared as to

formation and

ascending with

their purpose.

"JL 1628, this is the Anchorage Center. Would you

request

Center, this is JL

us.

scramble

for

confirmation?"

1628.

We would

not request

"The Anchorage
scramble."

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, F,AA Alaskan
Region, Airway Facilities Division. Received by FAA 1/2/87]

Page 12

... Page 15 ...
I knew

that in

the past

there was a U.S. military fighter

called the mustang that had flown up high for a

confirmation and

a tragedy

the F-15

with the newest

against the

creature with

had happened

to it.

Even

technology had no guarantee of safety
an

unknown

degree

scientific

Talkeetna at an altitude of 3,100

technology.

feet. The

We flew

toward

spaceship was still

following us, not leaving us at all.
About

the

same

time

United Airline passenger aircraft

which left Anchorage to Fairbanks flew into the same air zone and
began

communicating

with

the

Anchorage Center.

We heard them

transmitting that there was an object near JL 1628 and requesting
for confirmation.

We heard that the Anchorage Center was saying

to the United Airline aircraft
of

3,100

feet,

therefore,

altitude of 3,300 feet.

that JL
United

1628 was

Airline

at an altitude

should maintain an

sounded as

if Anchorage

the United

Airline aircraft

fly above

the spaceship.

flying the

East

side

aircraft came close to us.
us to flash landing
confirmed our
was coming

Mt.

McKinley.

lights for

us.

We were

United Airline

The United Airline aircraft requested
visual confirmation

positions visually.

close to

The

Center had

We knew

The

and we both

United Airline aircraft

that they

were watching us.

When the United plane came by our side, the spaceship disappeared
suddenly and there was nothing but the light of moon.

Page 13

The strange encounter ended at 75
miles

(Approximately

276

miles North

kilometers)

away

of Talkeetna, 150
from Anchorage. It

comprised approximately 50 minutes of flight time.

(line 6)

Next: NARA-JAL1628-733667-001-008 — JAL 1628: transcript of FAA interview with Capt. Terauchi by Dick Gordon (2 Jan 1987)

Same location: Alaska

Same period: 1986

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