Mystery cloud still unsolved
From
PETER DURISCH
in London
A mysterious cloud which quadrupled in size in 30 seconds caused an airline captain to issue a Mayday call and make an emergency deviation over the Pacific Ocean. The strange phenomenon occurred on April 9 and so far has defied any rational explanation by American scientists. It resembled the top half of a ball and rose to 60,000 feet, causing considerable alarm to the crew. The aircraft was a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 flying from Tokyo to Alaska. About 220 miles east of the main Japanese island of Honshu, the captain, a former United States Air Force 852 pilot, observed the strange sight and was given permission to make an emergency deviation to avoid it. Four other aircraft in the area
confirmed the sighting. The United States Federal Aviation Administration had warned of possible radiation in the area — such notices are usually issued when underground nuclear tests are thought likely. But American military surveillance of the area reported no nuclear or seismic activity in the area at the time, according to an article in the current issue of “Jane’s Defence Weekly.” Weather satellites did not detect the cloud. When the five aircraft reached Alaska they were washed down and the washings tested for radioactivity. None was found. The United States Aeronautics and Space Administration has been doing computer calculations on the cloud but the phenomenon still remains a mystery. — Copyright, London Observer Service.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840601.2.85
Bibliographic details
Press, 1 June 1984, Page 16
Word Count
242Mystery cloud still unsolved Press, 1 June 1984, Page 16
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.