Back in 1986, precisely on November 17, a remarkable event occurred during a routine flight from Paris to Tokyo, forever marking its place in aviation chronicles. Captain Kenju Terauchi, a skilled pilot boasting a fighter pilot background and over 10,000 flight hours, was at the helm of Japan Airlines Flight 1628 when a baffling scenario unfolded as the aircraft neared Anchorage.
As the darkness enveloped the skies, Captain Terauchi’s attention was grabbed by two peculiar lights that appeared through his cockpit window. These were no ordinary lights; they engaged in unconventional maneuvers, gracefully dancing in harmony, with one positioned atop the other before aligning directly in front of the airplane. At a speed of about 500 mph in a Boeing 747, Terauchi witnessed oval-shaped objects emitting a dazzling light, dangerously approaching the plane and flooding the cockpit with radiance.
Instead of disregarding the situation, Captain Terauchi swiftly got in touch with the Anchorage Air Traffic Control Center to inquire about these enigmatic entities. In a scene reminiscent of science fiction, the two unidentified flying objects (UFOs) suddenly vanished, making way for an enormous object of astounding proportions. Terauchi likened it to a “giant spaceship,” possibly as massive as two aircraft carriers combined, persistently tailing the 747.
The situation escalated rapidly when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage verified a colossal unidentified object on their radar. Despite Air Traffic Control’s advice for Terauchi to execute evasive maneuvers, descending to 4,000 ft above sea level, the object continued its pursuit. Another commercial flight was redirected to the area to confirm the sighting, but upon arrival, the UFO had vanished without a trace.
A robust body of evidence supports this incident, including accounts from the flight crew, radar data, and recorded communications, all converging to paint a vivid picture of the encounter. Following their landing, the crew underwent immediate debriefing by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials and other relevant authorities. Despite thorough investigations and extensive documentation, the incident remains shrouded in mystery, lacking a definitive explanation.
Expressing his frustration at the absence of answers, Captain Terauchi publicly voiced his belief in December 1986 that the crafts had extraterrestrial origins, leading to Japan Airlines reassigning him to a desk job. The case attracted the attention of John Callahan, the FAA’s Division Chief of Accidents and Investigations, culminating in a high-profile meeting in Washington, D.C., attended by representatives from the FBI, CIA, and President Reagan’s White House. Shockingly, at the meeting’s closure, an alleged CIA agent refuted its occurrence, instructing the confiscation of all presented data.
While this incident does not provide definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life, it undoubtedly sparks curiosity about what might be traversing our skies. The detailed narrative from a seasoned pilot, supported by radar findings and involving governmental entities, urges contemplation on the unexplored territories beyond our current comprehension.