{"type":"events","slug":"1986-japan-airlines-flight-1628","title":"Japan Airlines Flight 1628","url":"https://disclosdex.com/events/1986-japan-airlines-flight-1628","description":"A cargo jet over Alaska reported gigantic lights tracking it for minutes, confirmed on military radar","date":"1986-11-17T00:00:00.000Z","tags":["Sighting"],"updated":"2025-06-13T13:26:43.000Z","disclosureRating":6,"status":"unknown","lat":65,"lng":-146,"connectionCount":1,"content":{"markdown":"## Strange company at high altitude\n\nCaptain Kenju Terauchi, flying JAL 1628, observed three large luminous objects pacing his 747 near Fairbanks. The largest appeared as big as an aircraft carrier and lit up the cockpit.[^1][^2]\n\n## Radar tapes and controversy\n\nU.S. Air Force radars detected targets matching the crew's positions. The [FAA](/organizations/faa) later released transcripts, and Terauchi was grounded after speaking to the press. Skeptics argued planets or reflections, but the radar data keeps the case notable.[^3][^4][^5]\n\n\n[^1]: [The Black Vault: Japanese Airlines JAL 1628 FAA records archive](https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/ufo-case-japanese-airlines-jal1628-november-17-1986/)\n[^2]: [FAA record: Capt. Terauchi written statement, English translation](https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/jal1628/733667-001-007.pdf)\n[^3]: [FAA record: ATC transcript and JAL 1628 controller communications](https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/jal1628/733667-001-016.pdf)\n[^4]: [FAA record: Anchorage ARTCC radar tracking printout](https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/jal1628/733667-001-019.pdf)\n[^5]: [The Black Vault: The Vault Files - 1986 Alaska JAL Flight 1628](https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/the-vault-files-1986-alaska-jal-flight-1628/)","readingTime":"1 min read"},"relatedRecords":[{"ref":{"type":"organizations","slug":"faa","title":"FAA","url":"https://disclosdex.com/organizations/faa"},"direction":"outbound","weight":1}],"citation":{"canonicalUrl":"https://disclosdex.com/events/1986-japan-airlines-flight-1628","title":"Japan Airlines Flight 1628","publisher":"Disclosdex","retrievedFrom":"https://disclosdex.com/api/v1/events/1986-japan-airlines-flight-1628","license":"CC-BY-4.0"},"witnesses":["A cargo jet over Alaska"],"evidence":["radar","documents"]}