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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
* ** Release: 12/29/86 CONTACT: PAUL STEUCKE, FAA, (907)271-5296 PERSONNEL STATEMENT FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center The following is a report concerning the incident to aircraft JL1628 on November 18, 1986 at 0230 UTC. During the period of 2030 UTC, November 17, 1986, to 0430 UTC, November 18, 1986 I was on duty in the Anchorage ARTCC. I was working tbe Dl5 position from 0156 UTC, November 18, 1986 to 0230 UTC, November 18, 1986. At approximately 0225Z while monitoring JL1628 on Sector 15 radar, the aircraft requested traffic information. I advised no traffic in hi.s vicinity. The aircraft advised he had traffic 12 o'clock same altitude. . I asked JL1628 if he would like higher/lower altitude and the pilot replied, negative. I checked with ROCC to see if they had military traffic· in the area and to see if they had primary targets in the area. ROCC did have primary target in the same position JL1628 reported. Several times I had single primary returns where JL1628 reported traffic. JL1628 later requested a turn to heading 210°, I approved JL1628 to make deviations as necessary for traffic. The traffic stayed with JL1628 through turns and decent in the vicinity of FAI I requested JL1628 to make a right 360° turn to see if he could identify the aircraft, he lost contact momentarily, at which time I observed a prima tar et in the 6 o'clock osition 5 miles. I then vectored northbound to FAI from ANC with his approval to see if he could identify the aircraft, he had contact with the JL1628 flight but reported no other . traffic, by this time Jll628 had lost contact with the traffic. Also a military C-130 southbound to EDF from EIL advised he had plenty of fuel and would take a look, I vectored him toward the flight and climbed him to FL240, he also had no contact. Note: I requested JL1628 to identify the type or markings of the aircraft. He could not identify but reported white and yellow strobes. I requested the JL1628 to say flight conditions, he reported clear and no clouds. November 19, 1986 * "single primary returns" is in reference to target other than JAL. ** "the traffic " is in reference to the unidentified object. /
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.