A Flight into the Abyss
On November 17, 1986, Japan Airlines Flight 1628, a Boeing 747 cargo plane en route from Paris to Tokyo, encountered the unknown over Alaska’s frozen skies. Captain Kenju Terauchi, a veteran pilot with 10000 hours of flight time, reported two small glowing objects, followed by a massive walnut-shaped disc, 10 times larger than his jet. For 50 minutes, they shadowed the plane, defying physics with erratic maneuvers. Was this an alien pursuit, or a military secret veiled in Arctic twilight?
Anchorage Air Traffic Control confirmed radar hits, stunning controllers. The CIA, FBI, and FAA reviewed Terauchi’s sketches and tapes, but their denials of a key meeting fueled cover-up theories. The incident, aviation’s most chilling UFO case, lingers like a specter over Alaska, drawing seekers to its unresolved mystery.
The Encounter Unfolds
At 5:11 PM Alaska time, cruising at 35000 feet over Fort Yukon, Terauchi noticed two objects, each the size of a DC-8 jet, glowing with amber and white lights. They danced around the 747, illuminating the cockpit with intense heat, forcing Terauchi to squint. First Officer Takanori Tamefuji and Flight Engineer Yoshio Tsukuba confirmed the sighting, feeling warmth on their faces. The objects, emitting exhaust-like trails, paced the plane for 10 minutes before vanishing, only for a colossal disc to appear 500 feet away.
The disc, described as twice an aircraft carrier’s size, had pulsating lights and a metallic, walnut-like texture. Terauchi contacted Anchorage, reporting the object at 7-8 miles distance. Ground radar detected two targets near JAL 1628, corroborated by the 747’s onboard radar. The crew attempted a 4000-foot dive and 360-degree turns, but the disc mirrored their moves, visible for 50 minutes until landing in Anchorage. A United Airlines flight and Air Force plane nearby reported no sightings, deepening the puzzle.
Government Scrutiny and Silence
Anchorage Air Traffic Control alerted the FAA, who notified the military and intelligence agencies. On January 22, 1987, a meeting in Washington, D.C., included CIA, FBI, and FAA officials, reviewing radar tapes, Terauchi’s sketches, and voice recordings. John Callahan, FAA Division Chief, claimed a CIA official confiscated the materials, instructing attendees to deny the meeting to avoid public panic. Declassified FAA documents confirm radar anomalies over 32 minutes, but no official explanation emerged.
Terauchi faced backlash from Japan Airlines, who grounded him briefly, citing stress, and reassigned him to desk duties. He stood by his account, supported by Tamefuji and Tsukuba, who noted the objects’ unearthly speed. Callahan, retiring in 1988, revealed the tapes in 2007, claiming the CIA’s secrecy was deliberate. A lesser-known detail: the radar showed a “double primary target,” suggesting two objects, not one, challenging single-craft theories.
Skeptics and Alternative Explanations
Skeptics propose ice clouds reflecting lights, Jupiter, or a secret U.S. stealth craft. Yet, radar hits on both ground and airborne systems rule out optical illusions. Terauchi, familiar with celestial navigation, dismissed planets, noting Jupiter was visible elsewhere. The objects’ heat and precise maneuvers defy cloud theories. Could it have been a classified Aurora project, tested in Alaska’s remote skies? The absence of military confirmation and the crew’s terror suggest something beyond human tech.
Little-Known Facts and Broader Context
The JAL 1628 incident wasn’t isolated. On November 18, 1986, a Japanese military plane reported a similar object over Hokkaido, though less detailed. Terauchi, a known UFO “repeater” with prior sightings in 1970 and 1977, faced credibility questions, yet his crew’s corroboration and radar data bolstered his account. The FAA’s radar tapes, preserved by Callahan, showed anomalies at precise coordinates (64°N, 149°W), unmatched by known aircraft. The incident’s timing, during Cold War tensions, fueled speculation of Soviet or U.S. experimental craft.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The JAL 1628 encounter remains aviation’s most documented UFO case, featured in Unsolved Mysteries and UFO Hunters. Terauchi’s sketches, showing a disc with grid-like patterns, inspired UFO enthusiasts, with replicas sold at conventions. The FAA’s 2007 data release, prompted by Callahan’s whistleblowing, reignited global interest, with X posts in 2025 revisiting the case amid UAP hearings. The incident’s radar evidence and government secrecy make it a cornerstone of UFO lore, haunting aviation history.
A Timeline of the Mystery
The JAL 1628 saga unfolded as follows:
- November 17, 1986, 5:11 PM: Terauchi spots two small glowing objects near JAL 1628 over Fort Yukon.
- 5:21 PM: A massive walnut-shaped disc appears, pacing the 747 for 50 minutes.
- 5:30 PM: Anchorage radar confirms two targets near the plane.
- 6:01 PM: JAL 1628 lands in Anchorage, crew reports to FAA.
- January 22, 1987: CIA, FBI, FAA review radar tapes and sketches, later denied.
- 1988: Terauchi reassigned to desk duties by Japan Airlines.
- 2007: Callahan releases radar data, reigniting debate.
- Present: The incident fuels documentaries and UAP discussions.
Theories of the Unseen
What trailed JAL 1628? Was it an extraterrestrial fleet, probing humanity’s skies? Or a classified military project, hidden in Alaska’s vast wilderness? The radar evidence, crew’s terror, and CIA’s secrecy suggest something real, yet the lack of physical proof keeps the truth elusive. Could it be a glimpse of cosmic visitors, or a government secret too advanced to reveal? The Arctic skies hold their silence.
What Do You Think?
The JAL 1628 encounter looms like a shadow over Alaska, an aviation mystery unsolved. Were aliens tracking that jet, or was it a military secret cloaked in UFO lore? If something followed Terauchi, would you demand the truth or fear its implications? Share your thoughts on X.com @THEODDWOO or Reddit r/ODDWOO.