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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
• •' -• Sr* ' '--j • ' f ~.• ®¥; * ^ A^ '•jM^B^-y^- (^I^BAr. • V1,- V^v Controversy explanation, the probe has served only to deepen the mystery. The customary explanations of sup posed UFO sightings—special climatic conditions, refraction or reflection of light from another source—have aii been suggested but none seems ap propriate. What about the radar signais? The Air Force can't vouch for what Terauchi saw on his weather ra dar and now attributes its own brief blip to "electronic clutter," possibly a . radar echo. More Intriguing is what Terauchi's crew, copilot Takanori Tamefuji and flight engineer Yoshio Tsukuda, saw or didn't see. Both sighted a peculiar light tracking their plane, but neither wit nessed the closer encounters with the UFO. The pilot's suggestion that his crew was too busy with flight duties seems curious and, still more perplex ing, news reports suggest there was minimal cockpit chatter of the "What- was-that?" variety. The FAA has discounted the possi bility that Terauchi might haye halluci nated the whole experience due to fa tigue or the influence of drugs. And no one has accused the crew of taking il licit sips from the cargo. Although the r»r5T<»l.r'»2lt<S.», :• »tt4t TerauehT* ifraw- IngsoffthoUFO showed the tv^ cylinders (top), and the giant ball dwarflng his 747 (located tinder rfan on right side). crew was not tested, the FAA solemnly reported that "crew members were not influenced by drugs or alcohol." Ultimately the issue hinges on the credibility of Captain Terauchi, a one-' time Japan Air Self Defense fighter jock and a pilot with an impeccable record. No one could suggest a reason why he might want to invent a cocka- mamie yarn and risk professional ridi cule. TeVauchi contends that other pi lots have seen things in the skies but dori't report them because doing so is bad for one's career. To date the FAA takes the position that while Terauchi Is a responsible pi lot, there is scant evidence to corrobo-! rate his strange sighting. But the cap tain is not done with UFOs. Just last week, flying a similar cargo mission from Europe to Anchorage, he said It happened again. "Please record this," he radioed air traffic control excitedly, lapsing partly Into Japanese. "Irregular lights, looks like a space ship." This tirhe there were no unexplained radar contacts, though Terauchl's cockpit companions (a different crew from flight 1628's) again were uncertain as to what. If anything, had happened. The FAA will Investigate. Watch this space. -^Written byDan Chu, reportedby NancyFaber Everybody deserves a chance to make it on their own. Success (ioesn'l come ensy in our competilivc society. It lukes lalenl. .^uls. hard work and perseverance lo rise to the lop. iUil everybody—regardless of race, creed, color or sex- deserves a chance lo make il on Iheirown. The National Urban Lea.yue is dedicaled lo achiev- in.u lhal. .And there are ihin.i^s you can do lo help. 'lb find oui exactly what you can do in your communilv. contact your local Urban l.ea.uue or write to our national headquarters. 0National Urban League 500 Kasi (D2ndStreet New York. X.Y. 10021
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