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This Federal Aviation Administration file, released through The Black Vault, collects FAA Alaskan Region records on the UFO sighting reported by Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 on November 17, 1986. It includes a February 1987 FOIA route slip, an alert report to the Administrator, handwritten notes on calls with the Air Force, a duty officer checklist and a table of contents. According to the records, the crew followed lighted traffic for over 350 miles, while the Air Force treated its radar returns as clutter or spurious signals.
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# INFORMATION: ALERT REPORT Director, AAL-1 Administrator NOV.17, 1986, "SIGHTING": At 6:19 pm AST, JAL #1628 Cargo, B747, FL350 enroute to Tokyo via Reykjavik, Iceland, and Anchorage, reported observing lighted air traffic, in close proximity. Flight crew unable to determine shape but est. size, based on flashing yellow, amber, green, lights (no red lights) to be equal to B747. ARTCC controller advised him that there was no known air traffic, but did report intermittent radar targets. (Subsequent regeneration of radar tapes revealed no valid traffic data.) Air crew sighting continued for over 350 miles until object left in eastern direction. Pilot also was able to view object using onboard color radar. US Air Force, Elmendorf AFB, reported having the JAL and an occasional primary target on ADC radar (military informing media that it was "clutter"). JAL pilot requested and performed 360-degree turn and object continued with him. UAL #69 and military C-130, volunteered to be vectored in attempt for visual sighting, both with negative reports. JAL flight crew interviewed by FAA upon landing. Crew determined to be professional, rational. We have been coordinating with the military. National and international news media inquiries mounting after inquiry by Kyodo News Service. Franklin L. Cunningham
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