The harrowing tale of three survivors of the 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401 into the Everglades. 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. Journalist - A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for aviation history, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft even if doing so demands an unorthodox itinerary. Mysteriously, the log books started to go missing from the aircraft. By the time they did, it was already too late to recover. Ann Connell, Barry Connell, Angelo Donadeo, Patricia R Georgia, Adrianne Ann Hamilton, Jennifer Larsen, Thomas Mulcahy, Mercedes V Ruiz, Beverly Jean Raposa, Trudy J Smith, Sue F. Tibbs, Sharon R Transue, Dorothy M Warnock. National Transportation Safety Board report, Broward Motorcycle Deputy Hospitalized After Reported Hit-and-Run, Russian Founder of Cryptocurrency Firm Arrested in Miami, 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 plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. He spends most of his vacations in Miami. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. The monument, Ruiz said, represents the thoughts, the prayers, and all the efforts involved in refusing to forget each and every one of the victims. The names of each person who perished on Flight 401 will be engraved on the granite monument. The left wing tip hit first. "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". The investigation into the crash took months. Pieces of the aircraft scattered across the sawgrass. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. Patricia commented on the fact that it was the holiday season and maybe they'd earn some overtime. "We did something to the altitude," he said. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. Photo: Jon Proctor Collection. Fortunately, there were 75 survivors during that horrible tragedy of late 1972. Thanks to Jim Kalafus for the corrected names of Flight 401 victims drawn from Dade Country death certificate files and his continued research and participation in this effort. Miami, Florida Dec 10, 2022 (Issuewire.com) - Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was on its final approach into Miami shortly before midnight 50 years ago this month when a single light bulb on the aircraft's instrument panel failed to illuminate.Momentarily distracted, the flight crew failed to notice as the Lockheed L-1011 slowly dropped from the sky and into the blackness of the Everglades below. He wasnt rescued until four or five hours later, he remembers reading in his hospital records. Flight attendants Mercedes Ruiz and Patricia McQuigg were working at the rear of the aircraft. It was a huge fireball. Infantino and other survivors are holding a memorial service today at 4 p.m. at the site of the Valujet Flight 592 memorial, on the Tamiami Trail, 12 miles west of Krome Avenue. Southern Airboat and other organizations also plan to honor Bud and the victims and survivors of Eastern Flight 401 with a service and a barbecue in Miami. It happened just west of Miami International Airport. Flashlights also became a standard piece of safety equipment at each jump seat. They were working all night with gear on the boots in the swamp and the mud.". The jumbo jet had been making a late evening flight from New York to Miami. I have a beautiful family, and I got my wings back, and I just keep moving forward, said McQuigg. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. In a June 1973 report NTSB investigators said it was possible that the altitude hold function on the autopilot was accidentally disengaged, causing the plane to gradually descend from the 2,000-foot altitude. He was so weak that doctors opted to operate without anesthesia. Ruiz also described the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the lives lost in the crash. Raposa would spend the next grueling hours fighting for those who survived the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. The plane, which was in an angled turn at the time, struck the swamp and began to flip, breaking apart and spitting the passengers to the ground. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International Airport. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. 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. Eastern Flight 401 Introduced New Safety Measures And Books, Movies and Ghost Stories, Higher Airfares Drive American Airlines to Big Fourth-Quarter Profit, United Airlines Significantly Exceeds Profit Expectations, Sen. Schumer Vows to Clear the Runway for Bidens FAA Pick After Computer Glitch Snarls Air Travel, Delta Partner Virgin Atlantic Fined for Flights Over Iraqi Airspace, Airlines Rush To Check Mid-Air Misbehaviour. . "Next thing I knew, we hit the left wing tip first, everything out of the overheads flew over. Then I knew how bad I was.". In any case, it was far from the first time that the deceased pilot had supposedly been spotted after his death. But before we begin this spooky tale, we must first go back to December 29, 1972 on board Eastern . Shortly before the scheduled landing at about 11:30 that night, Lilly went to the restroom and when she came back they switched seats. . She asked fellow flight attendant Patricia Ghyssels, who sat across from her, what was going on. In addition to commemorating Flight 401, the creative talent behind the exhibit is seeking to help survivors raise the funding needed to create a permanent large-scale memorial to Flight 401's victims and survivors in the City of Miami Springs, once home to a thriving Eastern Air Lines community. 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. He didn't know it, but it was Robert "Bud" Marquis, who was out frog-gigging with a friend. The other flight crew members were First Officer John Stockhill, a flight engineer, and Donald Luis Repo, an aircraft mechanic, and flight engineer. Located just across from the Miami Springs Country Club, survivors and families hope this memorial brings comfort 5 decades later. Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. Promote your organization with Miami's #1 hyperlocal community website. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 traveled from New York to Miami. The couple had two sons. After placing a seat cushion under Ruizs head, Raposa left to search for other survivors. Those are the last moments Ron Infantino, 76, who now lives in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out. "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. Crash: Directed by Barry Shear. He would later learn the voice came from flight attendant Beverly Raposa, who would later lead survivors in Christmas carols to try to keep their spirits up in the cold night. Total construction cost: $5 MILLION. 401 JFK-MIA Dec. 29, 1972. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1 jet that crashed into the Florida Everglades on the night of December 29, 1972, causing 101 fatalities (77 initial crash survivors, two died shortly afterward). 2022 Miami Herald. "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. MIAMI - Thursday marks 50 years since Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades. He said 401 needs a memorial not only for those who died but for its importance in airline safety. A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. A flash fire also developed from sprayed fuel. That time, finances got in the way. . The plane then veered to the left and was thrown into darkness. The lights of Miami vanished behind them. Expand All . Ron Infantino is a passenger who survived the tragedy. Then, luggage shot out of the overhead bins. Both pilots and the flight engineer died, along with 2 out of 10 flight attendants and 96 of the 163 passengers on board. After the impact the aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area approximately 1,600 feet long and 300 feet wide. This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. Raposa added that Flight 401 has also been widely incorporated into safety training for pilots and flight attendants. Eastern Airlines eventually ceased operations early in 1991. "It was beautiful," said Infantino said of the jet. His right arm was nearly severed, his left knee broken, his chest crushed. She was six feet above the swamp but released her harness. Dozens of people were airlifted to local hospitals from the scene. Two days into recovery his dad came into his hospital room. Beverly attended to the injured and calmed any survivors she found. There were 75 survivors. We just hit,' she said. The answer was fine, but unfortunately the controller didn't specifically mention the altitude so no one was the wiser. It helps me put life in perspective, you see.". Beverly Raposa a survior of Eastern Flight 401 29th December 1972 crash of an L-1011, tail number N310EA explains her experience She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. "She said, 'I have to find my family, but here's my sweater.' He read a poem in her honor from her perspective as if she were speaking to him from the heavens above. On the returning flight, an engine failed and had to be shut down before it caught fire. Infantino heard that, but nobody could hear him. Flight attendants Patricia and Stephanie tragically died in the crash, along with the flight crew. The death toll was, in 1972, the highest of any one-plane accident. "He said they found Lilly's body," he said. Eastern Airlines Flight #401 (L1011 N310EA) crashed in the Everglades on December 29, 1972. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. And he said the disaster taught him something about life. Now you can see the construction of the new pool with your own eyes. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. "They put me in a helicopter and I'll never forget they gave me a warm blanket," he said. But doctors were able to reattach his arm. All of the bodies were recovered, 99 perished that night, two more would die from their injuries. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. "I remember hitting, I woke up and I was in a sitting position water up to my chin, no clothes on, everything was stripped right off me except the rims of my socks," said Infantino. Now, survivors are planning the first memorial marker. This message board is intended for serious discussions of the December 29th, 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. The sound, a huge fireball that went through the cabin," she recalled. The video below recounts the moment by moment incident that led to the crash as well as interviews with some of the survivors and witnesses. Why? Raposa emphasized that she feels safer up there. Raposa concluded that 50 years beyond the crash, survivors and supporters still carry the victims of Flight 401 in their hearts. Was it because we switched seats? The two girls in the photograph that are having the bunny ears (Patricia Ghyssels) and the one jokingly being choked (Stephanie Stanich) were the only two flight attendants who did . The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. I number things from 1 to 10, and 10 [is] a plane crash, he said. Wow, what an experience that was. The flight started in New York. He warned them of a faulty electrical circuit, which was then found and replaced. Patricia has a master's level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. "On the wreath I put, 'To our fellow brothers and sisters, in loving memory.' Infantino and three of the flight attendants who survived the crash spoke to NBC Miami as the 39th anniversary of the flight approached. 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 . Her face was burnt, but the coolness of the swamp seemed a relief. Although the sightings were reported in a Flight Safety Foundation publication, the Eastern Air Lines CEO dismissed the claims, and employees were warned not to talk about the sightings. Expand the text below to read more about this . Its a bad dream. And because it was pitch dark there were no visual cues outside to tell them they were about to hit the swamp. Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation The next, he was covered in water up to his chin. Ruiz also described the adoption of shoulder straps on jump seats as another significant safety development that followed the crash of Flight 401. "I love my profession so I overcame that part of my life. On the night of December 29th, 1972, he was a passenger on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami. Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. "My god, you're here, please don't leave me," he remembers telling them. 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. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was on its final approach into Miami shortly before midnight 50 years ago this month when a single light bulb on the aircraft's instrument panel failed to illuminate. However, 75 people did survive the crash. 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 development process of the monument represented 50 years of collaboration and remembrance following the crash of Flight 401. I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. There were 75 survivors, including a 23-year-old flight . An aircraft crashes in the Florida Everglades, killing 103 passengers. But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. "I hear this voice scream out in the Everglades," he said. There has not been one day in the last 50 years that they havent been in my heart and that I havent wanted to make sure that I kept my promise to them. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. Only nine smiling faces appear because one volunteered to take the photo. A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. Flight engineer Don Repo is also said to have appeared onboard flights in a strange, supernatural manner. The 50th Anniversary of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Memorial Monument will be dedicated in a 1300 EST ceremony on December 29, 2022. Pin. One minute, he was resting in his seat with his arms folded. A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. The crash changed the course of the aviation industry through new safety measures that require pilots to maintain communication with the cabin crew and require flight attendants to carry larger flashlights. 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. The granite marker, engraved with the names of the people who perished, will stand in a median near the Miami Springs Country Club for future generations to see. Visit miamiherald.com. As frog hunters who witnessed the crash helped rescue survivors, Raposa led those remaining in renditions of Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. The last group was rescued at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, almost four hours after the crash. Then there was silence. But it also crept into popular culture through . In other words, more building space. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Raposa had found her. In the cockpit: Capt. Omar is a bilingual and bicultural journalist, covering breaking news in South Florida for the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. The scene was apocalyptic. While the plane was on final approach, the crew became distracted by an apparent problem. "We did something to the altitude," the first officer remarked, and the captain's reply was "What? Then came the final and fatal mistake. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The airline still wanted to interview him for an opening that he could start after his health improved. She came across a woman who found an 11-month-old baby as she scouted the wreckage for her son. The City of Miami Springs hosted a Beautiful Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, December 29, 2022. ", "We're still at two thousand right?" He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. "We're still at 2,000 feet, right?" "I just remember their heavy breathing. Definition: Here is something interesting that we discovered during our research. Raposa explained that over many years, we worked, trying to put something together, emphasizing the development of a tribute for Flight 401. The survivors were taken to a narrow levee where helicopters took them to hospitals. Fourteen people suffered burns, while 17 had only minor injuries and didn't need to be hospitalized, the NTSB report said. He turned it down. A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Florida's deadliest airline disasters. 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. The Ghost of Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. I said, 'I know what you're going through because I lost somebody too.' To the flight 401 survivors - Franoise Riette December 30, 2020, 5:02 pm. She heard the cries of people and shouted, 'Follow my voice, I am a flight attendant' so that any surviving passengers could find her. The captain recognized him as being none other than Bob. Then he gave me last rites. Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. However, the indicator light failed to show that the landing gear was locked down. Shelley and Steve Rubin and their unborn baby boy - Sandy Shapiro December 30, 2020 . The plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. READ MORE: The day when an Eastern Airlines jet crashed into the Florida Everglades. Infantino served in Vietnam, but it was this flight, not war that brought him closest to death. Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. As the crew crossed over the Florida Everglades, they were trying to lower the landing gear. MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. "Ah, tower this is Eastern, ah, four zero one, it looks like we're gonna have to circle, we don't have a light on our nose gear yet," the pilot told the control tower at MIA. . Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. Its the holidays. Since the flight was full, he exercised his privilege as an Eastern Airlines employee, and rode in the cockpit jumpseat. 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. On this day in 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashes in the Everglades. Eastern Airlines Flight 401. Discover more of our stories here! Off-topic, inappropriate or anonymous posts may be removed. 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