The UFO Event over Alaska (1986) – The JAL 1628 Encounter

Short description of the event
On November 17, 1986, the crew of Japan Airlines (JAL) Flight 1628, a Japanese cargo plane, had an extraordinary encounter with a massive UFO in the skies over Alaska. Pilot Kenju Terauchi and his crew observed a massive, luminous object accompanying their aircraft for approximately 50 minutes. The UFO performed spectacular flight maneuvers and was detected by FAA and NORAD radar systems. Despite official investigations, no definitive explanation could be found, making this incident one of the best-documented UFO sightings in aviation history.

When and where did this all happen?
The encounter occurred on November 17, 1986, in the airspace over Alaska, near the Arctic Circle. The object was reported to both civil and military radar systems, including the FAA and NORAD.

Main features of the event
The crew saw a gigantic, disc-shaped flying object with a golden-orange glow, accompanied by two smaller objects. The large UFO maintained a constant distance from the aircraft and performed abrupt and unusually fast maneuvers. The pilots noticed a sudden heat sensation in the cockpit as the UFO approached. The encounter lasted approximately 50 minutes. Radar recordings confirmed the presence of the object, but a US military jet deployed to investigate the incident was unable to visually identify it.

Investigation and clarification attempts
The FAA launched an official investigation, supported by radar data that clearly demonstrated the presence of the unknown object. A 1987 report described the incident as "unexplained." Senior FAA official John Callahan later confirmed that the incident was discussed at high levels within the U.S. intelligence community. Skeptics speculated about possible optical illusions caused by planets, ice reflections, or radar interference.

List of the most credible witnesses
Kenju Terauchi, an experienced pilot and former fighter pilot, was the primary witness and provided a detailed account of the encounter. His co-pilot and flight engineer also independently confirmed the sighting. John Callahan, then an FAA official, publicly confirmed that the incident was documented by radar data and was taken very seriously internally.

Conclusion on credibility
The incident is well-documented: experienced pilots as key witnesses, numerous radar recordings from the FAA and NORAD, and a long sighting duration of over 50 minutes speak to its high credibility. However, there is no physical evidence beyond the radar recordings. Skeptics consider atmospheric effects or misinterpretation possible.

Credibility: High – One of the best-documented sightings with clear radar and witness accounts, although the phenomenon ultimately remained unexplained.

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