eastern air lines flight 401 survivors

It was time to leave as each of us will do. He turned it down. Based in Norwich, UK. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. Beverly Raposa was a bubbly, 25-year-old flight attendant onboard Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami when the plane slammed into the Everglades at 225 miles per hour near midnight . A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. The tragedy would never have occurred but for a single, burnt-out light bulb . Pieces of the shattered plane lay scattered in the muck and jet fuel stained the inky waters of the Everglades. 255153N 803543W. . That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. Then, luggage shot out of the overhead bins. All rights reserved, WATCH LIVE: Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Roadway in Western Broward. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 1pm on Curtiss Parkway, near the Miami Springs Golf Course. On duty that day was also Stephanie Stanich, Trudy Smith, Sharon Transue, Beverly Rapoza and Dorothy Warnock. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. I didn't know what to do.". 103 passengers and crew members died in the crash or shortly thereafter and 75 passengers/crew survived. The aircraft was a five-year-old McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 registered as N8984E. There were 10 flight attendants in the main cabin serving 163 passengers. She went on to praise the efforts of Raposa, who sang Christmas carols to maintain morale among survivors as they waited for rescue. The precious love we shared means we are never far apart,. But today, for Infantino, is about Lilly and the other lost lives. Were talking about 75 people who have varying degrees of injuries and now have to navigate an airplane wreckage in the alligator infested swamp. Operated by a Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar (N310EA), the aircraft crashed into the Florida Everglades on a nighttime approach to Miami International Airport (MIA) on December 29, 1972. "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". "Hey, what's happening here?" Washington, DC 20006, Online Donations can be made at www.PlaneSafe.org. Ultimately, the probable cause was determined to be "the failure of the flight crew to monitor the flight instruments during the final 4 minutes of flight, and to detect an unexpected descent soon enough to prevent impact with the ground," the NTSB report said. She was six feet above the swamp but released her harness. She was dazed and disoriented but noticed a penlight flashing nearby. The swamp water that may have saved him also caused him to get gangrene, causing it to swell to three times its normal size and smell "like rotten eggs." Was it a burned-out $12 bulb or a faulty landing gear? Survivors - Crew and Eastern Employees. Had we had flashlights that night, Ruiz continued, every person that was ambulatory could have helped. Flashlights eventually came to flight attendant crew stations ten years after the crash. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. The captain was 49 . The pilots engaged the autopilot so they could inspect the light and the landing gear but the darkness apparently made it hard to see. We just hit,' she said. He couldn't move. I put the sweater around me under the water. If you have a story you'd like to share with the Miami Springs audience or would like to advertise on MiamiSprings.com, please contact Mr. Suarez at: You have entered an incorrect email address! However, the indicator light failed to show that the landing gear was locked down. Was it because we switched seats? The plane actually spun in a circle, the floor dropped and I woke up in the water," he recalled. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. What none of the passengers in the plane knew was that the light for the nose gear wasn't working. Perhaps the most extraordinary and credible research into the ghost phenomenon ever documented is the so-called "Ghosts of Flight 401."On December of 1972, an Eastern Airlines Tri-Star jetliner, Flight 401, crashed into a Florida swamp.Read the accident report (PDF). "I'll be reading names," he said, "and after each name a candle will be lit until 101 candles are lit.". "They're home," Beverly said. One of the envelopes was a letter from Eastern requesting an interview. The plane then veered to the left and was thrown into darkness. His knee was badly dislocated, his shin able to swivel in any direction. And she knows what I went through, so you have that same bonding with one another.". Ron Infantino is a passenger who survived the tragedy. The aircraft assigned to Eastern Airlines Flight 401 that December 29th was an L-1011 from Lockheed, often referred to as a Whisperliner due to its quiet engines. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. Contact: brent@airwaysmag.com, 2022 Airways Publishing, LLC. Raposa explained that over many years, we worked, trying to put something together, emphasizing the development of a tribute for Flight 401. Mercy Ruiz, 75, a survivor and former flight attendant, told the Miami Herald that the solemn event felt like a graduation a gratifying ending to months of working side-by-side with Raposa to make the memorial a reality. That also gave me an impression like the two girls were marked, Ruiz said. Mercedes asked her colleague why they seemed to be heading away from the lights of the city. Flight Capt. / CBS Miami. Nonetheless, at one point, efforts appeared to come to a standstill until the beginning of 2022, when Raposa, in a conference call, emphasized a desire for action ahead of the 50th anniversary. In other words, more building space. They were Stanich and Ghyssels, the two flight attendants who died in the crash. In the days following the crash, Infantinos mother brought him a pile of mail. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. The event, which will begin at 1 p.m., is open to the public. In one of South Florida's worst air disasters, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York's JFK Airport to Miami crashed on Dec. 29, 1972, in the Everglades after the crew became distracted by a burned out landing-gear light. One of the worst air disasters in South Florida history happened exactly 50 years ago Thursday, when Eastern Airlines Flight 401 slammed into the Florida Everglades, killing more than 100 people and leading to the implementation of several aviation safety measures. Eastern Airlines Flight 401. First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. Although 75 people survived, the accident still resulted in the deaths of 101 occupants, including Captain Robert 'Bob' Loft and Flight Engineer Donald 'Don' Repo. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. "The autopsy was drowning. I carry those folks in my heart every single day, Raposa said of those who died in the tragedy. A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. But doctors were able to reattach his arm. The Memorial is located just South and West of the new Miami Springs sign that was erected on the Curtiss Parkway median. It is open to the public. However, she explained that it was huge and funds were just not raised for that, and we talked about maybe three to four years ago about maybe doing something smaller.. The U.S. Coast Guard had been quickly notified by the tower at MIA and had helicopters airborne almost immediately from their station in Opa-locka. He wasnt rescued until four or five hours later, he remembers reading in his hospital records. Now the names are there and they will never be forgotten, Ruiz said. I'm just blessed. This commemorative event in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among survivors and supporters. We get so tied up in the mundane things in life, the small stuff, we waste all our energies on that instead of concentrating on the major things. The experienced flight crew was distracted when the landing gear light failed to come on, which they believed was caused by a blown bulb. Were gonna wake up.. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. The sound, a huge fireball that went through the cabin," she recalled. He was very dedicated," she said. Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation . He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. Forty-five years ago, when Officer Gray Leonhard of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission began a solo night patrol in the Everglades, he was on the lookout for poachers, drug smugglers and maybe even a bullet-riddled corpse. "They were incredible," says Infantino. The pilot Bob Loft and the flight engineer Don Repo were two of the 101 people who perished in the air crash. While making preparations to land, the crew are distracted by a faulty landing gear indicator light and accidentally disengage the autopilot while trying to resolve the problem. "I said, 'Oh my god we crashed, we crashed.' As the aircraft circled over the Florida Everglades, the flight crew were fixated on whether the landing gear was, in fact, down and the indicator light was faulty. To the flight 401 survivors - Franoise Riette December 30, 2020, 5:02 pm. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. Infantino heard that, but nobody could hear him. Survivors: 10: Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 was a controlled flight into terrain accident of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 during approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. On the returning flight, an engine failed and had to be shut down before it caught fire. At 7:45 p.m. on December 29 that year, an Eastern Air Lines jet out of Tampa, Fla. arrived at Kennedy Airport, one of the airline's hubs, for routine maintenance. READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. The rescuers, Coast Guard members and Miami-Dade fire fighters and police officers, worked throughout the night finding survivors. Her face was burnt, but the coolness of the swamp seemed a relief. . Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. It was time to leave as each of us will do. It happened just west of Miami International Airport. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. The couple dated for a few years before getting married in December 1972. Those still in a sufficiently usable state were used again on the Eastern Air Lines fleet. "And it was just hanging off. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. While in the cockpit one day, preparing for the flight, another pilot heard loud knocks from under the floor beneath him. ", "We're still at two thousand right?" When the flight crew on Eastern Air Lines 401 noticed a possible issue with their aircraft, they immediately went into troubleshooting mode to ensure the problem could be fixed. "My grandfather was a kind, humble, perfectionist. He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. Discover more of our stories here! The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from New York to Miami. We're trying to build a memorial out there to try to honor that not only the survivals but the ones who died, ron "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 mph. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. "I number things one to ten in my life, ten's the plane crash," he says. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. The City of Miami Springs, Raposa emphasized, provided intense, intense support with the involvement of the mayor, the city manager, and the municipal public relations team. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from New York JFK to Miami.Shortly before midnight on December 29, 1972, the Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar crashed into the Florida Everglades, causing 101 total fatalities. Infantino and other survivors have for years tried to create one but have been unable to raise the money needed to build it. asked Loft. A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. She asked the flight engineer later about the oven, and he said he hadn't fixed it, and it didn't need to be fixed. Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . People were screaming, and partially clothed dead bodies were face down in the water. "These poor people were still my responsibility. On the night of December 29th, 1972, he was a passenger on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami. Aviation consultant Bennie Benitez said there were many positive safety elements that came out of 401, like flash lights on all planes. 50 years later, memorial dedicated to survivors, families of Eastern Flight 401 crash. Sharon Shackleford said it has been painful to go on without her sister but that the memorial brings her peace. "It was almost five hours before they even found me, five hours in the same spot, the same spot, I couldn't move, I couldn't get up," he said. So when Im stuck in traffic, I say, Ron, What number is this? "They were screaming, next thing I knew it, the overhead luggage was flying all over the place and the lights were going on and off like crazy. . Later, he recognized that the pilot he'd been speaking to was, in fact, Bob. "The blessing was we didn't know we were about to crash. "I got a call from a mother whose son was killed on Valujet 592 and she said how much she appreciates us having a wreath for them," said Infantino, choking up. She freed herself, then went to work saving others. Then there was silence. In any case, it was far from the first time that the deceased pilot had supposedly been spotted after his death. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. The disaster took the lives How could this have happened? "We're still at 2,000 feet, right?" Ruiz also described the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the lives lost in the crash. The plane, a new "Whisperliner," could transport 229 passengers. Please review this photograph closely. Visit miamiherald.com. Also developed after the crash were ground proximity warning systems, which alert pilots if an aircraft is is immediate danger of flying into the gound or an obstacle. The crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 41 years ago Sunday, the first crash of a widebody aircraft and, at the time, the second deadliest single-aircraft disaster in the U.S., led to wide-ranging changes in on board safety that continue to positively affect air travel today. Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. He said 401 needs a memorial not only for those who died but for its importance in airline safety. Patricia commented on the fact that it was the holiday season and maybe they'd earn some overtime. Today's story is one of tragedy, of course, but it's also one of heroism and bravery. Patricia has a master's level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. After the impact the aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area approximately 1,600 feet long and 300 feet wide. As you might expect, she later picked from some photos that Don was the engineer she had seen. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401: 28 May 2008 () On 29 December 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 is on a flight to Miami International Airport. This week, there will be a special commemoration of the new monument on Curtiss Parkway in memory of the 101 souls lost fifty years ago on Eastern Airlines Flight 401. Anyone wishing to donate can write a check payable to the National Air Disaster Foundation or donate online. "They put me in a helicopter and I'll never forget they gave me a warm blanket," he said. Miami, Florida: Bankrupt Eastern Airlines Jets On The Ground. One survivor, certain Marquis carried him to safety, once showed up with a $1,000 check. The granite monument, installed just north of the Miami International Airport, now serves as a permanent tribute to those who died when the Miami-bound Eastern Air Lines flight 401 crashed in the Everglades on the night of Dec. 29, 1972. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It also offered the opportunity to discuss their efforts to commemorate victims prior to the December 2022 inauguration of the 50th Anniversary of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Memorial Monument. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. Infantino had met his wife, a Little Havana resident, when he moved to Miami after the Air Force. For decades, many of the 75 survivors have reflected on ways to honor those who died in the tragedy. Dozens of people were airlifted to local hospitals from the scene. And then it was like being in a tornado, I was in the tail and we were rotating, said Beverly Raposa, a flight attendant. Both would die in the crash. "On the wreath I put, 'To our fellow brothers and sisters, in loving memory.' Crash: Directed by Barry Shear. He didn't know it, but it was Robert "Bud" Marquis, who was out frog-gigging with a friend. That time, finances got in the way. What happened with ValuJet. If you can hear my voice, dont light a match, flight attendant Beverly Raposa called out as she regained consciousness in the darkness. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Floridas deadliest airline disasters. Flight 401 - Flight Crew Fatal Photograph. A flash fire also developed from sprayed fuel. She encouraged them to sing Christmas carols to keep their spirits up, a mark of courage and stoicism in the face of a dire situation. Oh, Mercy, stop complaining, Ghyssels responded. Why them two?. All rights reserved, WATCH LIVE: Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Roadway in Western Broward, Jury Sides With Flo Rida, Awards $82 Million in Lawsuit Against Celsius, Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Road in Western Broward, Man in Custody After Allegedly Killing Co-Worker at Hollywood Business: Police, Netflix Is Hiring a Flight Attendant for One of Its Private Jets and the Job Pays Up to $385,000. The list of passengers who perished on Eastern Airlines flight EA401 and honored on the Memorial are: The list of pilots who perished on Eastern Airlines flight EA401 are: The flight attendants who perished on the flight are: Fortunately, there were 75 survivors during that horrible tragedy of late 1972. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The flight had left JFK Airport in New York en-route to Miami International Airport when it went down shortly before midnight on Dec. 29, 1972, in the swampland some 18 miles west-northwest of the airport. . He had 8,876 flight hours, including 3,856 hours on the DC-9. READ MORE: An Eastern plane crashed into the Everglades in 1972. They described Renee, as they called her, as adventurous, smart, outspoken and a woman who was ahead of her time. Those were the last words recovered from the flight voice recorder. Raposa, who worked in a travel agency after leaving Eastern, reminds herself to not leave the house angry and to tell her loved ones how much she cares for them because returning is never a guarantee. The flight, which departed from JFK International . Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. But before we begin this spooky tale, we must first go back to December 29, 1972 on board Eastern . Then I knew how bad I was.". "I was leaning back, my eyes half closed, and all the sudden I hear the engines go to full power," he said. Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. When an air traffic controller at MIA noticed they were flying at 900 feet when they should have been at 2000, he contacted the cockpit and asked, "How are things coming along out there?" I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. Seventy five people survived. . On Thursday, she was wearing the same Eastern Air Lines gold wings pin that she wore on the fateful night. "I'm one person in the midst of all this," Marquis told NBC News back in 2007. Woman, 66, has been missing for weeks, Miami cops say, Date night: Ivanka Trump posts picture with Jared Kushner at this Miami hot spot, Miami to Palm Beach lawyers email trouble, aggravated battery, fighting disbarment, DeSantis appoints a Lourdes Academy staffer to the Miami-Dade School Board, Former state Rep. Grieco should have law license temporarily suspended, report says, A Coral Gables attorney suspended in 2020, disbarred in 2022 wants to be back by July, Suspect arrested after Miami gas station clerk is stabbed multiple times. https://new.miamisprings.com/images/news/pool-capture.jpg. Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. They were exhausted. Two days into recovery his dad came into his hospital room. A short time later, the plane was cleared to turn back to MIA and that's when a crewmember noticed something was amiss. One of them was Ron Infantino, an Air Force veteran in Vietnam and aviation aficianado. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. The captain recognized him as being none other than Bob. The pilot was unnerved by what had happened and canceled the flight. Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. The bottom line was that the pilot and crew became so concerned about a burnt-out lightbulb that they neglected to notice the altitude dropping. I say, 'Calm down, Ron, what number is this? She came across a woman who found an 11-month-old baby as she scouted the wreckage for her son. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. His right arm was nearly severed, his left knee broken, his chest crushed. Less pool space. Love aviation history? She asked fellow flight attendant Patricia Ghyssels, who sat across from her, what was going on. Gli episodi del programma televisivo documentaristico canadese Indagini ad alta quota (Mayday) sono stati trasmessi sul network Discovery Channel Canada dal 3 settembre 2003.A marzo 2018 sono stati prodotti e trasmessi in lingua originale 156 episodi (suddivisi in 18 stagioni), inclusi cinque speciali Science of Disaster in cui sono trattati pi incidenti (stagioni 6 e 8) e tre spin-off Crash . 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