JAL.
“On November 17, 1986, Japan Air Lines cargo flight 1628, carrying a load of Beaujolais wine from Paris to Tokyo, was cruising at 35,000 feet over Alaska when Captain Kenjyu Terauchi first noticed lights flying in formation in front of and below the aircraft.”
What followed was one of the most extensively documented pilot UFO encounters in aviation history.
The initial formation consisted of two craft that appeared to array side by side before the aircraft, firing what Terauchi described as arrays of amber and white flashing lights "in a way that resembled the lights of a city." These craft remained with the aircraft for several minutes before a dramatically larger object appeared — a massive craft that Terauchi estimated to be the size of two aircraft carriers. This object moved to the left side of the plane and tracked it from close range for over 20 minutes.
The FAA's Anchorage Center confirmed radar contact with an unknown object in proximity to JAL 1628 throughout the encounter. A military radar operator separately confirmed the contact. The FAA ordered an Alaska Airlines flight in the area to divert toward JAL 1628 to make visual contact — when it did, the unknown object disappeared. It had apparently detected the interception.
The FAA held an unusual public press conference and released radar data. The agency's own Division of Aviation Safety concluded the incident was unexplained. Terauchi, a veteran pilot with over 10,000 hours of flight time, maintained his account until his death. The case is remarkable for its combination of pilot testimony, dual radar confirmation, and the extended duration of the encounter.
Independent editorial summary. An unidentified report does not by itself establish an extraterrestrial origin. Map locations may be approximate.