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This FAA file, released through The Black Vault, collects correspondence and memos about the Japan Air Lines flight 1628 UFO report over Alaska on November 17, 1986. It includes Philip J. Klass's 1987 Skeptical Inquirer article, which attributes the sighting to Jupiter, Mars and moonlit ice clouds, and FAA Alaskan Region public affairs memos on the premature release of investigation material. It also contains Richard F. Haines's request for the case file and Paul Steucke's reply explaining the radar returns as uncorrelated targets.
US Deportment of TransportatlOfl Federal Aviation Administration April 17 , 1 987 Mr. Philip J. Klass Contributing Editor Aviation Week & Space Teclmoiogy 404 "! ~ " Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20024 Dear Mr. Klass: f , I ,; ~ .1 n R L u 1:. r . . : 1 C S 111 · <· : • I' r · i ~ Thank you for your recent correspondence which included your analysis of the JAL flight 1628 UFO sighting that occurred in Aiasl<a on l~ovember 17, 1986. It is very interesting. I would like to be able to share this with others at sane time but will withhold doing that until you have had sufficient tir.ie to publish your findings and have granted me permission. There is no rush. Your series of questions regarding the actual course of the aircraft are both pertinent and interesting . Enclosed is a detailed map that has plotted on it the actual radar returns. This was in the original air traffic material (folded) that was sent in response to persons ~ho ordered item 1110 from the Order Forrr.. The copy most people received, having been duplicated, is difficult to read and track, hence we have obtained and special second generation copy for your use. I know the actual route is very important to your calculations and I wanted to be sure you received a legible copy. Your kind col11lilents about our intent to provide everytt1ing on tnis sighting to the public have been most helpful. s~~ e colieagues would like to have FAA "wash its hands" of the whole affair and your earlier letter was most he l pfui in reaching oy goal of fu l l discl osure. Sincerel y, ~ \ . 0 \~\ __,_-- Paul Steucke Publ ic Af f a i rs Offi cer -
Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 41 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.