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First Officer Tamefuji interview, Peter Beckner, 5 Jan 1987

FAA via National Archives / The Black Vault · 24 pages · text from the file's own layer

This FAA record of interview documents a session held January 5, 1987, at the Federal Building in Anchorage, Alaska. Inspector Peter E. Beckner of AAL-207 questioned JAL First Officer Takanori Tamefuji, with interpreter Sayoko Mimoto, about the November 17, 1986 sighting. Tamefuji said he saw very bright, multicolored lights resembling head-on traffic for about five to ten minutes, along with a large green echo on the airborne radar. His seat position kept him from seeing it after that. He rejected reflection and weather explanations and said he was certain he saw something.

•
s. Mimoto While conversation was going, I peeked out and momentarily I saw
it.
P. Beckner You saw this, okay. Um, after the turn. Were you able to see
anything anymore, like this light pattern here?
T. Tamefuji ~
P. Beckner Okay, er this ~ this pattern here?
T. Tamefuji Humm, no.
P. Beckner Okay. And tha - so that was the last time you saw it, was prior
to the turn . . .
T. Tamefuji Humm
P. Beckner Okay, okay. Well sir, that's all I can think to ask you. Is
there anything you'd like ta ~ to further add ~ and give us some
more understanding to what you folks saw up there?
T. Tamefuju Humm, no well, I am certain that I saw something.
S. Mimoto Well I'm ~ I'm sure I saw something.
T. Tamefuji It was clear enough to make me believe taht there was an oncoming
aircraft.
s. Mimoto This is clearly enough to make me believe it was an oncoming
airplane.
P. Beckner Okay
T. Tamefuji That's the starting point of this story.
S. Mimoto That's the beginning of this story.
P. Beckner ~the story, ah, (laughter). Okay um, well that pretty much
concludes the questions I have for you. And again I appreciate
you coming in. Especially on such short notice. And Sy I
appreciate you coming in also on such short notice. So thank you
very much •
T. Tamefuji And ah, can I ask one question?
P. Beckner Sure
T. Tamefuji Ah, I read the FAA news hummm, ah, humm, I found military radar
picked up some kind of target on their radar. (unintelligible)
What type of understanding?
P. Beckner Umm, I'm not sure what they seen on that radar, right at the
present moment.
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