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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.
# iSrrsis.P^- FAAUIASHrPN 29 '97 20s51 POot's UFO sightmg called a bright Image of the planet Jupiter ' NBWYORK(AP) —AJtpuiAir Lines pilotwho claimed tohaveseen an unidetttitied flying object glong- sidehis airplanelast November wu actually seeing an unusually bright image of the planet Jupiterand pos- slbiyMars,an investigator said yes* Phiiip J. Klass said isironomieai calcuiationB show that on Nov. 17, when the pilot claimed to have seen the UFO, Jupiter was extrameiy bright and was visible precisely where the pilotreported that he saw the UFO. Mars was Just below and to the rightofJupiter, and may explain the. pilot's initial report chat he saw tNvd lights. Mr. Klosisaid. Mr. Klass. on editor with (he mag* asine Aviation Week and Space1bchcaUed paranormal phe nomena. Mr. Klass. who heads the orgam- zation's U70 subcommittee, is the author of "UFOs: The Public De ceived." He has been investigating UFO sightings for more than 20 years. "Jupiter was only 10 degrees above the horizon, making it appear IS the pilot to be roughlyat his own 3S.000-foot altitude." said Mn' Klass inhis report. Marswas visiblecloser to the horizon and to the right of Jupiter, but was not ai bright, the report said. "This is not the first time that an experienopd pUot has mistaken a brightcblesiiai body fora UFO. nor willit be the last." Mr. Klasssaid. A United .Airlines flight and an Air Force C-130 cargo plane that were in Mr.Tbmuchi'svicinity at the time of the claimed sighting were j asked td look for the object, and nei ther report seeing it. "I think that the Japanese pilot should haim been a little more sxep* deal when the United airliner and the AirFoicaplane reportedseeing nothing." Mr. Klaas said yesterday. Areported radar "blip" near the Japan Air Lines plane was a spu rious echo from the mountainous terrain underneath the aircraft, Mr. Rlaii said. ^ . Mr. Tbrauchl reported a second UFO sighting in approximaiely Ae same area onJon. li. Thatsightmg was explained by FDA officials as village lights bouncing off ice cry stals in the atmosphere. Mr. Tbrauchi later conceded that that was a reasonable explanation. Mr. Steucke said. <^1581 P10/27 if/
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