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This FAA Alaskan Region compilation, released through the National Archives and The Black Vault, collects the media inquiries about the November 17, 1986 sighting reported by the crew of Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 over Alaska. It includes call logs, a tally of newspaper articles, a public affairs management report citing 101 inquiries, and press releases. The FAA's March 5, 1987 release concluded that the second radar target was a split return from the JAL Boeing 747 and said no further investigation was planned.
“Japan Air Lines Flight 1628”3 pages
0239 - JL1628 told ZAN they no longer had the traffic in sight. 0242 - The ROCC advised it looked as though the traffic had dropped back and to the right of JL1628, however, they were no longer tracking it. 0244 - JL1628 advised the traffic was now at 9 o'clock 0245 - ZAN issued a 10 degree turn to a northbound United Airlines flight, after pilot concurrence, in an attempt to confirm the traffic. 0248 - JL1628 told ZAN the traffic was now at 7 o'clock, 8 miles. 0250 - The northbound United Flight advised they had the Japan Airlines flight in sight, against a light background, and could not see any other traffic. 0253 - JL1628 advised they no longer had contact with the traffic. A subsequent review of ANC ARTCC's radar tracking data failed to confirm any targets in close proximity to JL1628. Aircraft arrived Anchorage International Airport 8~24 pm. Three JAL crew members on board aircraft were interviewed by FAA Security personnel. Crew members were determined not to be influenced by drugs or alcohol, rational. All three crew members reported seeing the lights. (Capt. Kenjyu Terauchi, lSt.Off. Takanori Tamefuji, Fl.Eng. Yoshio Tsukuda) Aircraft, a cargo flight, B747, was enroute from Reykjavik, Iceland to Toyko, Japan, via Anchorage, Alaska. There were no other reports of unknown aircraft in the area by any aircraft. The unknown aircraft accompanied the JAL flight for abo FAA Security, upon being notified immediately informed the FAA Wash. D.C. Security office. The Air Force Military Defense system was alerted by the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center when the JAL pilot reported the sighting via radio to the Center. The FAA ARTCC reported that there was only one radar target - the JAL B747- no confirmation of any other targets . Military contact: Col Ted Tilma, USAF, Anchorage, 552-5351.
Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 44 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.