
This is a true story about a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 cargo plane being chased by a gigantic UFO over eastern Alaska on November 17, 1986.

Source: Communi core by S.Fujioka – I scan the photograph which I photographed with MINOLTA single-lens reflex camera with a copier
In my previous article, I introduced the incident on November 17, 1986, when JAL Flight 1628, a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 cargo plane, encountered two small UFOs in the skies over eastern Alaska.



After that, JAL Flight 1628 encountered a gigantic UFO and was persistently chased by this gigantic UFO for more than 20 minutes.

In this article, I would like to introduce in detail how JAL 1628 encountered the gigantic UFO over Alaska, based on the communication record of the time and Captain Terauchi’s written statement, which are published in, both of which have been made public on Japanese Airlines JAL 1628 UFO Encounter, November 17, 1986 of The Black Vault.
Japan Airlines Boeing 747 Encounters Gigantic UFO the Size of an Aircraft Carrier Over Eastern Alaska
Captain Terauchi See Two Pale Flat Lights Moving in Formation
After the two flying objects have left the aircraft, Captain Terauchi saw two pale flat lights moving in formation at the same altitude and speed as the JAL 1628 in the direction the two flying objects had flown away.


JAL1628:
Lights are visible at 10 o’clock and at the same altitude. Is your radar detecting them?
R/D15
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; roger, and I’m not receiving any radar replies.
According to Captain Terauchi’s notes, he had the above communication with Anchorage ATC, but such communication was not recorded in the communication records.
Meanwhile, the two pale lights moved to the left side of JAL 1628, 30 degrees to the left diagonally aft, and when they moved right next to the aircraft, they completely disappeared from the JAL 1628’s onboard radar.
The two pale lights were slightly above the altitude of the aircraft when they were positioned in front of JAL 1628, but after they moved, they descended to a position slightly below the altitude of the aircraft and difficult to see from the cockpit. The distance from JAL 1628 to the two pale lights was 7 to 8 miles.
As JAL1628 began to pass over the position where Fort Yukon was visible diagonally to the lower right, the sunset sky to the southwest turned a little reddish, and the border between the dark ground and sky became just a little brighter by about a few millimeters wide when viewed from the cockpit, but the east side was still dark.

Far ahead, the lights of Eielson Air Force Base and the city of Fairbanks could be seen gradually increasing in intensity.
However, the two pale lights still followed JAL 1628 at regular intervals.
Captain Terauchi could not discern from the lights alone whether the pale lights were the two flying objects that had just approached the aircraft due to the darkness. Based on his many years of experience as a fighter pilot, it seemed to Terauchi that they were flying in an extremely favorable position against JAL 1628, as JAL 1628 was positioned in the brighter part of the sky in view of those two pale lights.
What the hell are they chasing our plane for?
So far, he had not sensed any danger, but Captain Terauchi began to feel a slight twinge of uneasiness because he could not understand what their purpose was.
JAL 1628 Encounters a Gigantic UFO
As the lights of Eielson Air Force Base and the lights of Fairbanks grew considerably brighter, two lights were suddenly visible four or five mountains away to the north of these lights. The lights were extremely bright, made even brighter by the snow on the surrounding mountain slopes.

Soon, Eielson Air Force Base and the city of Fairbanks came into view. That night was clear, and to Captain Terauchi’s eyes, accustomed to the darkness, the lights of Fairbanks were bright and shining.
When Captain Terauchi again saw the pale white lights located behind the plane, he saw a startling sight.
A huge spaceship was silhouetted against the sky!


Captain Terauchi, who was in extreme fear, requested Anchorage ATC to turn the aircraft 40° to the right in order to get away from the huge flying object.
At the Anchorage Aviation Department, ATC Carl E. Henley, who had previously been in sole charge of Sector R/D15, took over R15, and a new ATC, Samuel Rich, took over R15.
UTC 02:30:16 JAL1628:
(unintelligible)
UTC 02:30:20 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; you’ r e coming in broken, say again.
UTC 02:30:23 JAL1628:
Request, ah deviate ah, ah, from ah, from object, request heading two four zero (*Azimuth 240 degrees*1).

UTC 02:30:31 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; roger, fly heading two four zero … Japan Air sixteen twenty eight ah heavy; deviations approved as necessary for traffic.

UTC 02:30:49 JAL 1628:
It’s ah, quite big!
UTC 02:30:52 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; you’re still broken, say again.
UTC 02:30:56 JAL1628:
It’s ah, I think ah, very quite big ah, plane.
It was only 15 seconds from the time he requested the change of direction from Anchorage ATC to the time he received permission, but for Captain Terauchi, it seemed like a very long time. When he checked the rear of the aircraft again, the giant flying object was still following the aircraft.


At this point, Anchorage ATC Henley came up with the idea that they might be able to capture the object on radar from the Fairbanks approach control.
UTC 02:31:27 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Approach sector fif … approach fifteen request.

UTC 02:31:36 APCH (Fairbanks Approach Control):
Go ahead.
UTC 02:31:40 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Let’s see one two miles southeast of the Alpha (unintelligible), you’ll see a code of one five five zero (*JAL1628) at flight level three five zero (*35,000 feet).
UTC 02:31:47 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Ya.
UTC 02:31:48 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Are you pickin up a primary target right with that aircraft?
UTC 02:31:51 Fairbanks Approach Control:
You mean aside from the aircraft itself?
UTC 02:31:53 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Ya ya, other than that one, are you pickin up a ah it a be primary? ah he’s probably not squawking a code.
UTC 02:31:58 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Ah, no, it’s the only target I see there.
UTC 02:32:00 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Okay, if you see a primary, watch that, fifteen fifty code, if you have time.
UTC 02:32:03 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Ya.
UTC 02:32:04 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
If you see a primary with it, keep your eye on it. And he should be at three five oh (*35,000 feet) also.
UTC 02:32:05 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Alright, very good, we’re watching.
However, from the approach control at Fairbanks, the radar was unable to capture the gigantic UFO chasing JAL 1628.
JAL 1628 Begins Descent to Shake off Gigantic UFO
At this point, Captain Terauchi decided to request Anchorage ATC to descend the aircraft in order to escape the chase of the giant UFO.
UTC 02:32:07 JAL1628:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; ah request descent.

UTC 02:32:20 JAL1628:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; request three one zero (*31,000 feet).
UTC 02:32:25 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; understand requesting, flight level three one zero.
UTC 02:32:34 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; your transmissions are broken, say again.
UTC 02:32:39 JAL1628:
Flight level three one zero.
UTC 02:32:41 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen one, er correction sixteen twenty eight heavy; descend at pilot discretion, maintain flight level three one zero.
UTC 02:32:45 JAL1628:
Leaving three five zero (*35,000 feet) to three one zero (*31,000 feet).


UTC 02:32:58 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; do you still have your traffic*2?
UTC 02:33:00 JAL1628:
Still, ah, coming ah, ah, right formation, in ah formation!
UTC 02:33:07 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; understand.
Captain Terauchi called the gigantic UFO “coming in formation” as it followed JAL 1628’s descent exactly, keeping the same distance. This was due to his former experience as a fighter pilot flying in formation.

Anchorage ARTCC Also Captured a Flying Object Chasing JAL1628 on Its Radar
UTC 02:34:38 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; say position of your traffic.
UTC 02:34:42 JAL1628:
Affirmative west of ah Fairbanks.
UTC 02:34:52 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; understand your traffic is over Fairbanks at this time.
UTC 02:34:56 JAL1628:
Affirmative … ah request heading two one zero (*Azimuth 210 degrees*3).
UTC 02:35:02 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; roger. deviations approved as necessary for traffic.
UTC 02:35:15 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; say altitude of your traffic.
UTC 02:35:20 JAL1628:
Ah ou ah sa ah same level.
From the communication records shown in red above, we can see that JAL1628 visually confirmed the location and altitude of the gigantic UFO and reported it to Anchorage ATC. In particular, at 02:34:42 UTC, JAL1628 reported that the gigantic UFO was located “west of Fairbanks,” and then at 02:34:52 UTC, Anchorage ATC informed JAL1628 that the gigantic UFO was “over Fairbanks. From this, it is clear that both JAL 1628 and Anchorage ATC were tracking the same object.
At the Anchorage ARTCC, Carl E. Henley in Sector R15 continued communications with JAL 1628 while Samuel Rich in Sector D15 was in charge of communications with the Fairbanks Approach Control and the Regional Operations Command Center.


UTC 02:35:24 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Approach center (*Fairbanks FAA tower) on the sixty one line.
UTC 02:35:27 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Approach.
UTC 02:35:28 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Have you got a second?
UTC 02:35:29 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Sure, go ahead.
UTC 02:35:30 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Look at your radar. We got a Japan Air one six two eight. ah, he’s deviating. He’s about ah, five miles north of Fairbanks V-O-R, squawking*4 one five five zero.
UTC 02:35:38 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Uh huh.
UTC 02:35:39 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Do you have any traffic with him? He sees traffic. He was deviating.
UTC 02:35:42 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
I already asked approach.
UTC 02:35:43 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Oh, he’s already asked you, I guess huh.
UTC 02:35:44 Fairbanks Approach Control:
Ah … ya no. We don’t, I don’t see anything there aside from his, ah, his target.
UTC 02:35:49 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay. Thank you. S-R.
UTC 02:35:50 Fairbanks Approach Control:
(Unintelligible)
As the above communication record shows, Fairbanks Approach Control’s radar failed to capture the giant UFO chasing JAL 1628.
JAL1628, Starting 360 Degree Turn to Get off the Chase of the Gigantic UFO
At this time, Henley in Sector R15 suggested that JAL 1628 make a 360-degree turn to get off the chase of the gigantic UFO.
UTC 02:36:12 JAL1628:
Ah, Anchorage Center; Japan Air one six two eight; request direct ah, Talkeetna.
UTC 02:36:18 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Cleared. Direct Talkeetna, and in ah, advise me of your position of your traffic.
UTC 02:36:24 JAL1628:
Ah, same po … same position.
UTC 02:36:37 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; ah, sir, I’m gonna request you to make a right turn, three six zero degrees, three hundred and sixty degree turn, and advise me what your traffic does then.
UTC 02:36:47 JAL1628:
Right turn, three sixty.
Captain Terauchi followed Henley’s advice and initiated a 360-degree turn of the aircraft. With the autopilot in Heading mode, the aircraft was slow to turn, so he banked the aircraft 30 degrees to the right in Manual mode and made a right turn of the aircraft.




The small dots to the left of the route of JAL 1628 indicate the locations of the gigantic UFO.
During the right turn, Captain Terauchi monitored the right direction and did not see any lights in the direction JAL 1628 was traveling. He was thus relieved that the aircraft had escaped the chase of the gigantic UFO.

However, after making a 360-degree turn, the aircraft returned to level flight, and when Captain Terauchi checked the rear again, he was astonished to see a giant UFO flying in the exact same position as before.



Radar at a U.S. Air Force Base Also Captures a UFO
Meanwhile, Rich in Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15 continued to communicate with the ROCC to locate the UFO that was stalking JAL 1628.
UTC 02:37:12 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Anchorage Center.
UTC 02:37:13 Regional Operations Command Center:
Ya, one dash two. Are you still working the one five five zero squawk (*JAL1628)?

UTC 02:37:18 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
One five ah.
UTC 02:37:19 Regional Operations Command Center:
Ya, he’s the one that had somebody in front of him level.
UTC 02:37:21 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Yes.
UTC 02:37:23 Regional Operations Command Center:
Okay. We have, no, we have confirmed, we have no military aircraft working up there.
UTC 02:37:25 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay. Thank you very much.
UTC 02:37:27 Regional Operations Command Center:
Does he still have tally on the aircraft out there?
UTC 02:37:29 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
You have no traffic at all?
UTC 02:37:30 Regional Operations Command Center:
That’s correct. Does he (*JAL1628) still have somebody visual?
UTC 02:37:32 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
He says he does.
UTC 02:37:33 Regional Operations Command Center:
Oh, okay. Thank you.
UTC 02:37:55 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Sir, does your traffic appear to be staying with you?
UTC 02:38:00 JAL1628:
(unintelligible) just looking.
UTC 02:38:54 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Sir, do you still have the traffic?
UTC 02:38:57 JAL1628:
Ah (unintelligible) distinguished.
UTC 02:39:01 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Say again.
UTC 02:39:04 JAL1628:
It ah … disappeared. Japan Air sixteen twenty eight.
UTC 02:39:57 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Anchorage Center.
UTC 02:39:58 Regional Operations Command Center:
Ya, this is one dash two gain. On some other equipment here, we have confirmed there is a flight size of two around your one five five zero squawk*5. One primary return only*6.

UTC 02:40:05 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay, where is is he following him?
UTC 02:40:07 Regional Operations Command Center:
It looks like he is, yes.
UTC 02:40:10 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; roger. At your discretion proceed direct Talkeetna, Jay one two five*7 Anchorage.

Posted by the Federal Aviation Administration on Apr 6, 2021
(https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2021-0245-0002)
UTC 02:40:15 JAL1628:
(Unintengible)
UTC 02:40:23 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; roger. Sir, The military radar advises they do have a primary target in trail of you at this time.
UTC 02:40:32 JAL1628:
Ah, say again Japan Air sixteen twenty eight.
UTC 02:40:35 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Military radar advises they are picking up intermittent primary target behind you in-trail in-trail! I say again!
UTC 02:40:47 JAL1628:
(unintelligible)
Captain Terauchi checked the rear of the aircraft again. The gigantic UFO was in place as it descended, following behind the aircraft with admirable exactness.


Terauchi felt uneasy because he had no idea what their purpose was.
Captain Terauchi Declines Request to Scramble U.S. Air Force Aircraft
Meanwhile, Samuel Rich of Sector R15 makes a proposal to the ROCC regarding the scrambling request.
UTC 02:40:24 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay, do you have anybody you can scramble up there?
UTC 02:40:30 Regional Operations Command Center:
I’ll tell you what, we’re gonna talk to your liaison sir about that.

Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) – USGS The National Map, via MSR Maps (formerly TerraServer-USA)


UTC 02:40:46 Regional Operations Command Center:
Where is this search return at right behind him or where?
UTC 02:40:50 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Say again.
UTC 02:40:51 Regional Operations Command Center:
Ah, I’m gonna talk to my other radar man here … has gotta … he’s got some other equipment watching this aircraft.
UTC 02:40:54 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay.
UTC 02:40:55 Regional Operations Command Center:
Okay. We’re gonna call the military desk on this.
UTC 02:40:57 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay. Thank you.
UTC 02:40:58 Regional Operations Command Center:
Okay. R-F.
By the way, oddly enough, there is a second record of transmissions beginning at 02:40:10 UTC that differs from the one above. In fact, after the note (There was an overlap of transmissions during this time frame), the following updated record is left.
UTC 02:40:10 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Anchorage request.
UTC 02:40:12 JAL1628:
Go ahead.
UTC 02:40:13 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Roger, sir. Would you (*JAL1628) like our military to scramble on the traffic?
UTC 02:40:17 JAL1628:
Negative. Negative!
UTC 02:40:26 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Sir. We do have military ah at Eilson forty miles away. I can put em up and let em check the traffic for you.
UTC 02:40:34 JAL1628:
Roger.
UTC 02:40:35 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Roger. Would you like us to do that?
There should be only one air traffic controller (Carl E. Henley) in Sector R15, but as the two transmissions above at 02:40:10 UTC show, the ATC in R15 is making different transmissions to the same JAL1628 at the exact same time.
Was there some kind of error in the transcription from the audio tape of the communication recordings?
By the way, Captain Terauchi immediately turned down the scramble request proposed by Anchorage ATC because he knew that in the past, a U.S. Air Force Mustang fighter scrambled to confirm a UFO had met an unfortunate end (Mantell UFO incident*8).
In his written statement in Japanese, Captain Terauchi states as follows:

I immediately declined (*the request by Anchorage ATC to scramble).
In the past, U.S. Air Force Mustang fighters have flown up to confirm (*an UFO), with unfortunate results.
There is no guarantee that even a state-of-the-art F-15 will not have an accident (*as unfortunate as Captain Mantell’s P-51 Mustang) when heading toward (*the spacecraft built by) them with immeasurable scientific power.

At this time, TOTEM71 suggests to Henley of Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15 to fly a military aircraft C130 near JAL 1628 to confirm the UFO.
UTC 02:40:44 TOTEM71:
Anchorage Center. You have Totem seven one up here. Ah we might be able to get close to him.
UTC 02:40:48 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; You were broken say again.
UTC 02:40:55 JAL1628:
Ah, say again Japan Air sixteen twenty eight.
UTC 02:40:59 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Your transmission was broken Sir. We do have military aircraft in your vicinity that we can ah check on the ah traffic with you.

UTC 02:41:07 JAL1628:
Ah (unintelligible) sixteen twenty eight; No radar traffic above.
Meanwhile, Rich in Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15 continued to communicate with the ROCC to locate the UFO that was stalking JAL 1628.
UTC 02:41:49 Regional Operations Command Center:
One two’s on.
UTC 02:40:51 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Roger. Where’s that ah are you still painting a primary ah by that Japan Airlines flight squawking fifteen fifty?
UTC 02:41:56 Regional Operations Command Center:
Okay, let me look at my other.
UTC 02:41:59 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Can you tell where’s the position of it?
UTC 02:42:00 Regional Operations Command Center:
Okay, standby.

UTC 02:42:04 JAL1628:
Anchorage Center. Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Confirm direct to Talkeetna three one zero (*31,000 feet).
UTC 02:42:09 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Affirmative. Direct Talkeetna and descend at pilot’s discretion maintain flight level two five zero (*25,000 feet).
UTC 02:42:16 JAL1628:
Ah, pilot’s discretion two five zero. Japan Air sixteen twenty eight.
UTC 02:42:24 Regional Operations Command Center:
It looks like he, he ah, offset, left, and then possibly fell back in-trail. However, I can’t see him now, I can’t pick him out.
UTC 02:42:29 Anchorage ARTCC Sector D15:
Okay, thank you very much S-R.
UTC 02:42:31 Regional Operations Command Center:
R-F.
UTC 02:42:35 JAL1628:
Ah, we have – Anchorage Center Japan Air one six two eight; Ah we have in sight same position over.
UTC 02:42:42 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Understand in sight in same position.
UTC 02:44:07 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Sir. Do you still have the traffic?
UTC 02:44:12 JAL1628:
Ah, say again please.
UTC 02:44:13 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Do you still have the traffic?
UTC 02:44:17 JAL1628:
Ah, affirmative. Ah, nine o’clock ah, ah.



JAL 1628 headed toward Talkeetna at 31,000 feet. However, the giant UFO did not leave the same position.
Anchorage ATC Requests United 69 to Identify the Gigantic UFO
At that time, United Airlines Flight 69, a U.S. UAL airliner from Anchorage to Fairbanks, entered the same control area as JAL 1628 and began communicating with Anchorage ATC.



Sector R15 air traffic controller Henley came up with the idea of having United 69 identify the UFO behind JAL 1628.
UTC 02:44:39 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine; Anchorage request.
UTC 02:44:41 United Airlines Flight 69:
Ah, go ahead. United sixty nine heavy.

UTC 02:44:43 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Sir, I’ve got a Japan Air seven forty seven presently in your eleven o’clock position and one hundred and one, correction, one one zero miles, and he has traffic (unintelligible). I’ll keep you advised ah … when you’re closer to him, I want you to see if you see anything with him.
UTC 02:45:04 United Airlines Flight 69:
Okay, fine. ah, we’ll look for ya.
UTC 02:45:10 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Sir. If you can I would like to identify the ah type of aircraft when you go by him.
UTC 02:45:16 United Airlines Flight 69:
Okay. You got some background ah noise, so you you want us to identify the trailing aircraft if we can.
UTC 02:45:24 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Affirmative.
UTC 02:45:46 United Airlines Flight 69:
Say again the location of the traffic for United sixty nine.
UTC 02:45:49 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; In your eleven o’clock position, one zero zero miles, southbound, is a Japan Air seven forty seven. He is at flight level three one zero (*31,000 feet). Says he has traffic at his nine o’clock position same altitude.
UTC 02:46:06 United Airlines Flight 69:
We’ll be looking, that’s ah, ah, can’t see anything yet.
UTC 02:46:12 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Roger sir. He’s ah way up to ah to the north of you with your concurrence. I’m gonna put you on a vector and take you ah closer to him ah, so when you pass, you’ll be within five miles of each other.
UTC 02:46:22 United Airlines Flight 69:
Okay, you’re uh something wrong with your transmitter or something, but ah I think your talking to United sixty nine.
UTC 02:46:34 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; That is affirmative, sir. I’m gonna take you on a vector closer to the Japan Air. He’ll still be at flight level three one zero (*31,000 feet) and I’m gonna keep you at flight level two nine zero as long as you can stay up with your approval.
UTC 02:46:46 United Airlines Flight 69:
That’ll be fine.
UTC 02:46:48 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Maintain flight level three one zero (*31,000 feet).
UTC 02:46:54 JAL1628:
Japan Air one six two eight; (unintelligible) maintain three one zero.
UTC 02:46:59 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; roger. I’m gonna have a United aircraft get close to you and take a look ah to see if he can identify your traffic.
UTC 02:47:06 JAL1628:
Thank you.
UTC 02:47:09 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Turn ten degrees left, radar vectors ah, to see traffic.
UTC 02:48:11 United Airlines Flight 69:
Ah, say again the traffic (unintelligible).
UTC 02:48:13 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Aircraft calling. Anchorage Center with traffic. Say again.
UTC 02:48:16 United Airlines Flight 69:
United sixty nine; Can you point the traffic out again please?
UTC 02:48:19 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Affirmative. The ah Japan Air is in your eleven o’clock position and five zero miles southbound.
UTC 02:48:28 United Airlines Flight 69:
Ah roger, thank you.
UTC 02:48:31 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Say the position of your traffic.
UTC 02:48:34 JAL1628:
Ah, now ah, ah, moving to ah, around ten mile now. Ah, ah, position ah, seven ah, eight o’clock, ten mile.


UTC 02:48:52 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen seventy eight heavy; roger.
UTC 02:49:32 United Airlines Flight 69:
Ask that Japan Airliner to ah turn on his lights and turn it off for United sixty nine would ya.
UTC 02:48:39 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Ah flash your ah landing lights on and off please.
UTC 02:49:45 JAL1628:
Do now. Japan Air sixteen twenty eight.

UTC 02:49:47 United Airlines Flight 69:
Okay, we’ve got the ah Japan Airlines airplane. This is United sixty nine.
UTC 02:49:52 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; roger. The Japan Air says the traffic is in his seven to eight o’clock position and one zero miles in-trail.
UTC 02:50:00 United Airlines Flight 69:
Okay, we’re lookin.
UTC 02:50:05 United Airlines Flight 69:
Why don’t you get us a little closer?
UTC 02:50:07 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; roger. Another additional ten degrees left.
UTC 02:50:14 United Airlines Flight 69:
Roger, United sixty nine.
At that time, JAL 1628 was flying east of Mount McKinley when Captain Terauchi saw United 69 approaching.

UTC 02:50:35 United Airlines Flight 69:
United sixty nine heavy; We’ve got the Japan Airliner insight. I don’t see anybody around him. Ah he’s at his seven to eight o’clock position huh.
UTC 02:50:46 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine; That’s what he says. Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Say the position of your traffic now.
UTC 02:50:52 JAL1628:
Ah, now distinguishing. But ah, ah, your I guess, ah, twelve o’clock below ah, you, over.

United 69 was getting closer and closer. However, when United 69 came right next to JAL 1628, the gigantic UFO that had been following it, maintaining the same position, disappeared in an instant. Then, the light of the moon began to shine brightly all around.
UTC 02:51:32 United Airlines Flight 69:
Ah, Center from United ah sixty nine; Ah the ah Japan Airliner is silhouetted against a ah light sky. I don’t see anybody around him at all. I can see his contrail, but I sure don’t see any other airplanes. Do you see him?

UTC 02:51:49 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Ah, negative sir. We got just a very few primary hits on the ah, target and then ah, we really haven’t got a good track on him ever.
UTC 02:52:03 United Airlines Flight 69:
Yeah, we’d like to start down now. United sixty nine.
UTC 02:52:05 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
United sixty nine heavy; Cleared direct Fairbanks descend at pilot discretion. Maintain one zero thousand (*10,000 feet) Fairbanks altimeter three zero two two.
UTC 02:52:12 United Airlines Flight 69:
Down to one zero thousand direct to Fairbanks United sixty nine.
UTC 02:52:18 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
And United sixty nine heavy; I thank you for your help!
Thus, 75 miles north of Talkeetna, the unusual close encounter between JAL 1628 and the UFO finally ended. The contact with the UFOs lasted about 50 minutes.

U.S. Air Force Scrambles to Identify Gigantic UFO
After this, a US Air Force plane, C130, was sent out to confirm the gigantic UFO.
UTC 02:52:28 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one; Contact Anchorage Center one one eight point two.
UTC 02:52:31 TOTEM71:
If you want, we’ve got extra gas. We could bop up another five or six thousand feet and turn around.

UTC 02:52:36 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem (*military C130 flight) seven one; Ah, roger sir. If you’d like ah standby … Totem seven one, turn ah, right heading two five, correction, turn right, heading two seven zero, radar vectors to intercept.
UTC 02:52:55 TOTEM71:
Two seven zero. You want us to go up five or six thousand.

UTC 02:53:10 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Descend at pilot discretion. Maintain flight level two five zero (*25,000 feet).
UTC 02:53:13 JAL1628:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight; Ah, pilot’s discretion maintain ah, ah, two five zero. So ah, ah, I cannot, I couldn’t see ah, U-F-O, over.
UTC 02:53:27 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Understand you do not see the traffic any longer.
UTC 02:53:31 JAL1628:
Affirmative.
UTC 02:53:33 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Roger sir. I’ve got a military C one ah thirty (*C130) that’s gonna go over and take a look at it.

UTC 02:53:53 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one, sir. The military seven forty seven on completion of your turn will be in your two o’clock position three zero miles southbound at ah flight level three one zero (*31,000 feet).
UTC 02:54:04 TOTEM71:
Okay sir. We’re searching this time. We think we have him.

UTC 02:54:09 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Flash your landing lights please.
UTC 02:54:32 TOTEM71:
And Center Totem seven one would like to climb to two four zero (*24,000 feet).
UTC 02:54:34 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one climb and maintain flight level two four zero.
UTC 02:54:37 TOTEM71:
Out of two one zero (*21,000 feet) for two four zero (*24,000 feet). Totem seven one.
UTC 02:55:18 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one; The seven forty seven is now two o’clock one five miles southbound three one zero (*31,000 feet).
UTC 02:55:25 TOTEM71:
Ah, yes sir. We’ve got him insight!
UTC 02:55:27 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one; Understand you do have him insight.
UTC 02:55:31 TOTEM71:
(unintelligible)
UTC 02:55:35 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one; Do you see any traffic in his vicinity?
UTC 02:55:38 TOTEM71:
Not flashing any lights at this time sir.
UTC 02:55:58 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem· seven one; Deviations approved as ah necessary to ah take a look.
UTC 02:56:02 TOTEM71:
Okay sir Totem seven one wilco.
UTC 02:56:04 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
And Totem seven one sir; After your ah the seven forty seven goes by you, ah your discretion direct Eilson.
UTC 02:56:10 TOTEM71:
Okay, that would be Elmendorf sir. But ah understand direct.
UTC 02:56:13 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Totem seven one; That’s my correction sir. Be direct Elmendorf your discretion.
UTC 02:56:17 TOTEM71:
Roger sir.
In the end, the C130 also returned to the base without being able to identify the gigantic UFO.
UTC 02:56:22 JAL1628:
Anchorage Center Japan Air one six two eight; Leaving ah three one zero (*31,000 feet) for ah two five zero (*25,000 feet) now.
UTC 02:56:28 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Roger and traffic in your eleven o’clock ah correction your ten o’clock position five miles westbound is a military C one thirty (*C130) flight level two four zero (*24,000 feet).
UTC 02:56:40 JAL1628:
Roger.
UTC 02:57:13 Anchorage ARTCC Sector R15:
Japan Air sixteen twenty eight heavy; Contact Anchorage Center one one eight point two.

UTC 02:57:18 JAL1628:
Eight point two. Good day!
After that, JAL 1628 landed safely at Anchorage International Airport via Talkeetna at approximately 03:23 UTC.

It is too shocking to believe, but did the three Japanese crew members, including Captain Terauchi, really encounter UFOs?
In my next article, I will introduce various skeptical perspectives on this incident.

Published on April 26, 2023
Updated on May 16, 2023
Written by OTAKUPAPA
References
1. THE BLACK VAULT: Japanese Airlines JAL 1628 UFO Encounter, November 17, 1986, John Greenewald, September 21, 2018.
2. “Mirai Tono Deai (Encounters with the Future)”, Written Statement by Capt. Terauchi [In Japanese]
3. Written Statement by Capt. Terauchi [English translation by Sayoko Mimoto]
4. Transcript of Communications between air traffic control and JAL 1628.
5. Flight Path Chart of JAL 1628.
6. Color photos of simulated radar data.
7. Color photos of simulated radar data with captions.
8. Black and white photos of simulated radar data.
9. Hiroshi Sugie (August 2016). 747 Jumbo Monogatari Tanjou kara Dash 8 made Eikou no Hanseiki (747 Jumbo Story Half a century of glory from birth to Dash 8), JTB Can Books
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