This thread has potential!
I think you have some good points, and I follow you most of the way. I've always felt the Teheran case was shaky, in part because I know a bit about flying (though I'm not a pilot) and how much can go wrong if the gear and pilot is ill-prepared for the situation. Interesting case, and very curious, but shaky. One thing, if the AF thought they were on to an alien radio beacon wouldn't they put all their might into securing and recording and interpreting that? I know I would!
On the other hand, I think the JAL case is very hard to debunk. My only immediate explanations would be either of two possibilities:
1) An extremely massive and basically undescribed electrical/atmosperic phenomenon flipping and spinning around the aircraft, in a manner that spooked the entire crew to a degree that they started thinking/seeing aliens in a near-state of chock. And to a degree that radar picked it up, if it can? This would basically be like a super-large ball lightning and a crew scared shitless. I find it very unlikely.
2) A hoax by old-school fabrication. It would require a few things:
- An agreement between the crew and the controller to create a hoax, for reasons that I cannot fathom. (Bad career move...)
- The controller would need to fabricate the radar images containing the radar returns, and count on not being challenged on his accounts in public , e.g. by the other radar operators. I find the combination of those very unlikely.
Obviously, alien visitation is also very unlikely (or not, I dunno), but it's really one of those cases where debunking attempts seem a bit forced!
What was it? I'm curious! So far, I haven't seen any convincing debunks either.
