It was just another routine cargo flight—until it wasn’t.
On November 17, 1986, Japan Airlines Flight 1628 was cruising at 35,000 feet over the remote, icy wilderness of Alaska. The experienced crew, led by Captain Kenju Terauchi, a former fighter pilot with over 10,000 flight hours, was transporting wine from Paris to Tokyo. But somewhere near Anchorage, the mundane gave way to the extraordinary.
What they saw would become one of the most jaw-dropping UFO encounters in aviation history.
Lights in the Sky—and Something More
Around 5:11 PM, Captain Terauchi noticed two glowing objects pacing the aircraft. At first, he assumed they were military planes—but as they drew closer, it became clear these weren’t anything of this Earth.
The objects, each roughly the size of a commercial jet, danced around the Boeing 747. According to Terauchi, they emitted bursts of light and displayed maneuvers that defied known aeronautical capabilities. Then, things got even weirder.
A massive, walnut-shaped object appeared behind the plane.
He estimated it to be as large as an aircraft carrier. Radar confirmed something was there. Both the military and FAA radar systems tracked an object following the flight.
For over 30 minutes, the crew experienced what could only be described as a game of aerial cat-and-mouse—with a UFO.
FAA Involvement and a Sudden Silence
When the plane was finally able to land safely in Anchorage, Terauchi filed a report. The FAA didn’t laugh. In fact, they launched a formal investigation.
FAA Division Chief John Callahan went on record years later, confirming the radar data and cockpit communications were all real. In a closed-door meeting, the CIA and the FBI allegedly requested the tapes—and then the story was buried.
Captain Terauchi, meanwhile, was grounded shortly afterward.
Why the Silence?
Many suspect the U.S. government knew more than it let on. Why confiscate the evidence if it was just an illusion? Why silence a respected pilot?
Some believe Flight 1628 encountered a surveillance craft from another world. Others think it was an advanced black project craft testing stealth tech in extreme conditions. Either way, no one has been able to explain what really happened.
A Close Encounter—Still Unresolved
Decades later, the Japan Airlines Flight 1628 UFO incident remains one of the most credible and detailed pilot sightings on record. Between the eyewitnesses, radar data, and official reactions, it’s hard to dismiss this as mere fantasy.
Captain Terauchi risked his career to tell the truth. And if he was telling the truth—then something very strange is lurking in our skies.
