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This FAA file, released through the National Archives and The Black Vault, collects 1987 newspaper clippings about Japan Air Lines Flight 1628. Capt. Kenju Terauchi reported that lights and a huge walnut-shaped object followed his 747 cargo jet over Alaska on November 17, 1986. The articles quote FAA spokesman Paul Steucke saying the radar returns were a split image and military clutter, and report Philip Klass's explanation that Terauchi saw Jupiter and Mars. Terauchi's second sighting in January was attributed to village lights reflecting off ice crystals.
“Japan Air Lines Flight 1628”7 pages
SlNlMY,J/uniUY4,1987 A8 ns Into UFOs Objects Vidat&i: Alaskan Airqwce United PreM lotematiooil ANCHORAGE, jin. 3—The Fed: AviitioQ AdninifitraUon hiu re> opened iti ioqulry Into what hai^ pened the i^t a Japan Air Unw Boeing 747 cargo crew reported •eeiiig unidentified flying objects (UFOs) over Alaaka, an FAA ipdias- nun Slid today. FAA faivestigatora Interviewed Capt Keoju Terau^ the pilot, fora second time Friday and are review* Ing all radar reco^ from the eve ning of Nov. 17,1986, when an un- exi^lned blip appeal on radar lereena u the JAL crew reported seeing myateiioui lights.' The reason we're ex^oring It is that it was a violation of airspace,' FAA spokeiman Paul Steucke sail That may aound strange, but that's what it wu." When the Incident flnt cams to light last week, the FAA reported that It was no longer Invedtigatiog and coniidered the matter an unex plained alghting, However, a thorough review of available data in the caae began Fri day and wlQ continue thia w^ Steucke aald, noting that he Is call ing It an Inquiry,.not,.sn inveatlga- tloi- The objsct of the inquiry—d collecting sU the data and intez^ew- ing peopl^la toidentify the object. Ifpoiilble,'Steucke aaid. ' . - "However, ooitilderiog thety^ of data we have available, no one eon- iideri it realistic that wecanidentify thaobje^'headdeA Thedediionto reopen the inquiry was made by the regional director d the FAA, Steucke aaid. : . An unknown object appeared on radar screens monitored by tiie An chorage Air Route Traffic Control Center, the Alaaka Air Command at ElmmtdoH Air Force Base and in the coclqiit of the JAL piano. " . Air Force officlalB have dlimiaied the Unidentified blipaa "random clut ter," but Steucke laid the FAA'a ra dar ayitem ia deaigned to. .remove thiskind .of clutter- r ' / V:
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