- 5-
aircraft deviated from its track to BETHEL about ten minutes after departure and that the aircraft was about 6 NM north of J501 when radar service was terminated. The aircraft reported passing BETHEL at 13:49 hours and estimated NABIE at 14:30 hours. A display of the King Salmon radar was located near the controller in the Anchorage ARTCC; however, it was not certified for the provision of radar separation in civil air traffic and it was not required to be monitored by the controller. Recorded data from this radar showed that the aircraft was about 12 NM north of track when the crew reported BETHEL.
1.1.7
KE 007 reported NABIE at 14:32 hours, maintaining FL 310, estimating NEEVA at 15:49 hours. This report was relayed to Anchorage ARTCC by flight KE 015, another KAL flight from Anchorage to Seoul which departed Anchorage fourteen minutes after KE 007. At 14:44 hours KE 007, still unable to contact Anchorage ARTCC on VHF, provided its position report for NABIE to Anchorage IFSS on HF with a revised estimate for NEEVA of 15:53 hours. At 16:00 hours KE 015 again relayed to Anchorage ARTCC a position report from KE 007 for NEEVA at 15:58 hours, maintaining FL 310 and estimating NIPPI at 17:08 hours. KE 007 was requested to report NIPPI to Anchorage IFSS.
1.1.8
Anchorage ARTCC cleared KE 007 to FL 330 at 16:06 hours after this level had been
vacated by KE 015.
1.1.9
At 17:09 hours KE 007 established HF communication with Tokyo Radio and reported passing NIPPI at 17:07 hours, maintaining FL 330, and estimating NOKKA at 18:26 hours. A Selcal check was also made. At 18:15 hours KE 007 requested FL 350. Five minutes later Tokyo Radio transmitted the clearance for KE 007 to climb to this level, KE 015 having reported reaching FL 370. KE 007 reported reaching FL 350 at 18:23 hours.
1.1.10
At 18:27 hours KE 007 attempted to advise Tokyo Radio of a rapid decompression and descent but the signal was noisy and weak and was not understood. Over the next fifteen minutes Tokyo Radio attempted to establish communication with KE 007 by voice and Selcal, as well as through relay by KE 015. All transmissions remained unanswered.
1.2
1.2.1
Eyewitness statement
At the time of the destruction of KE 007, a Japanese fishing boat, the 58th Chidori Maru, was in a position approximately 46°36'N, 141°16'E. The chief fisherman stated in interviews with the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency that he was on the bow deck when he heard the sound of an aircraft which gradually grew louder. He concluded from the sound that the aircraft was at a low altitude but did not see it. Then he heard a loud sound followed by a bright flash of light on the horizon, then another dull sound and a less intense flash of light. He estimated that the flashes of light that he saw took place in a southeasterly direction from him somewhere south of the beacon light of Mys Lopatina on Sakhalin Island. Ten to fifteen minutes later he experienced a strong smell of oil which gradually faded
away.
1.2.2
During the day he observed several Soviet vessels, an aircraft at low altitude and a patrol boat of the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency in the same general area.