On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was the first jumbo jet to crash and the second worst single-plane disaster in America up to that time. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. READ MORE: The day when an Eastern Airlines jet crashed into the Florida Everglades. ", "We're still at two thousand right?" And he said the disaster taught him something about life. Amazingly, 75 of the 176 passengers and crew aboard Flight 401 survived. The airline still wanted to interview him for an opening that he could start after his health improved. This message board is intended for serious discussions of the December 29th, 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. The flight path of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in its final moments. The Ghost of Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. Mysteriously, the log books started to go missing from the aircraft. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. In loving memory so they will never, ever be forgotten," she said unveiling the stone monument with the names of those who died engraved in the granite. I can also come here to feel her and be close to her.. Those are the last moments Ron Infantino, 76, who now lives in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out. 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. Definition: Here is something interesting that we discovered during our research. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. Fourteen people suffered burns, while 17 had only minor injuries and didn't need to be hospitalized, the NTSB report said. Earlier this year, Simple Flying took a look at the eight most intriguing examples. "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. Promote your organization with Miami's #1 hyperlocal community website. 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. He couldn't move. 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. A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. She woke in darkness, still in her jump seat hanging to one side, choking on the acrid jet fuel fumes. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. "He said they found Lilly's body," he said. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. There were 75 survivors. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. He had bad sawgrass cuts all over his face. The pilot Bob Loft and the flight engineer Don Repo were two of the 101 people who perished in the air crash. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. The 50th Anniversary of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Memorial Monument will be dedicated in a 1300 EST ceremony on December 29, 2022. In November 2022,Airwaysinterviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. "I'm one person in the midst of all this," Marquis told NBC News back in 2007. According to the Official Eastern Airlines Flight 401 history website, the passengers that survived the flight are: In addition to the passengers, the following crew members and Eastern Airlines employees also survived the crash: To visit the Memorial, just head towards the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club and park at the southern edge of the parking along Curtiss Parkway or at the Driving Range. 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 . First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. A lack of flashlights amid the poor nighttime visibility in the Everglades impeded the ability of survivors to assist each other. Raposa was among 75 "miracle survivors." Another 101 died. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades on December 29, 1972 as it was descending to land at Miami International Airport. The official cause of the crash was pilot error, the crew being distracted by a faulty nose gear indicator . Survivors now have a message, It gives me and my fellow surviving passengers, crew members and family members of loved ones who perished a time to all come together and remember them since we never had a chance to say goodbye, Raposa said. Then he noticed that the pilot did a fly-by the airport. Beverly Raposa a survior of Eastern Flight 401 29th December 1972 crash of an L-1011, tail number N310EA explains her experience Washington, DC 20006, Online Donations can be made at www.PlaneSafe.org. He did not survive, but his memory lives on. He was so weak that doctors opted to operate without anesthesia. A flash fire also developed from sprayed fuel. Love aviation history? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. / CBS Miami. Only nine smiling faces appear because one volunteered to take the photo. 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. However, the indicator light failed to show that the landing gear was locked down. The scene was apocalyptic. Infantino heard that, but nobody could hear him. He was very dedicated," she said. And then she started walking away, trying to help people. 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. She asked fellow flight attendant Patricia Ghyssels, who sat across from her, what was going on. I carry those folks in my heart every single day, Raposa said of those who died in the tragedy. To the flight 401 survivors - Franoise Riette December 30, 2020, 5:02 pm. The crash spawned a number of books, films and other media, along with legends of ghost signtings involving crew members who were killed. . Ruiz was 28 years old and had been working as a flight attendant for less than three years when the plane went down. "I was leaning back, my eyes half closed, and all the sudden I hear the engines go to full power," he said. 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. While the crash has inspired two feature-length movies and numerous documentaries and training films, there is no permanent memorial for Eastern Flight 401. Raposa, 25, had noticed something strange. "Preoccupation with a malfunction of the nose landing gear position indicating system distracted the crew's attention from the instruments and allowed the descent to go unnoticed," it continued. I survived, she didn't. Beverly replied, 'No Mercy, we're down.' He was offered the job. No, they dont, Raposa, now 75, recalls telling Stanich. For decades, many of the 75 survivors have reflected on ways to honor those who died in the tragedy. The couple dated for a few years before getting married in December 1972. Based in Norwich, UK. It was a picture no one was supposed to see, and instead, it has been all over the world, known for being taken right before the disaster. From this accident, crew resource management was brought into pilot and cabin crew training to improve communication onboard. Eastern Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, remains the worst aviation accident in Florida history. And because it was pitch dark there were no visual cues outside to tell them they were about to hit the swamp. 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. Chapter 4 - Flight 401 Passenger List. Literally you were inside a tornado.". Aviation consultant Bennie Benitez said there were many positive safety elements that came out of 401, like flash lights on all planes. The death toll was, in 1972, the highest of any one-plane accident. The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. At one point he noticed that his right arm didn't seem right. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. All the survivors were injured; 60 received serious injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries that did not require . Against the backdrop of a bright green and quiet golf course, some of the survivors accompanied by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Springs officials mourned the dead, prayed for their souls and vowed to always remember them. Anyone wishing to donate can write a check payable to the National Air Disaster Foundation or donate online. Here today, we hope that everyone, myself included, will find peace with this memorial monument.. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. Give or take a word, the announcement is remembered verbatim by virtually every survivor. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. They didn't find her body until two days later," he said. Infantino, around the time of his wedding, had completed an aptitude test, sent in his rsum and applied for a job as a pilot at Eastern Airlines. His knee was badly dislocated, his shin able to swivel in any direction. Dedication of a Memorial Monument for the 50th Anniversary of Eastern Flight 401. How could this have happened? Beverly Raposa switched seats from her regular position in the galley for a flight from New York to Miami. A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. Patricia McQuigg, Beverly Raposa, and Mercy Ruiz joined Infantino this week at a program to teach airline experts and passengers the lessons learned from a dark night in the Everglades. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. The flight attendants who perished on the flight are: Patricia A. Ghyssels; Stephanie Rae Stanich; Eastern Airlines Flight EA401 Memorial in Miami Springs honors the 101 souls who perished on December 29, 1972 SURVIVORS OF EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHT 401. 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. Now, survivors are planning the first memorial marker. Now you can see the construction of the new pool with your own eyes. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. With the 50th anniversary comes an opportunity for remembrance and reflection, to honor the lives lost and contemplate the tremendous improvements in aviation safety that followed the accident. Flight 401, a new L-1011 TriStar, took off from Kennedy International Airport in New York at 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 29, 1972. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. Fatal Flight: Eastern Airlines Flight 401 50 Years Later, Now Open: Self-Help Credit Union Opens in Miami Springs, How to Find a Reputable Staffing Agency in Miami, Famous Flamingos Fly to Familiar Refuge Each Night, Lowest Number of New COVID Cases Since October, COVID-19 Cases Unexpectedly Increased Last Week, Gazette Publisher Should Do Comprehensive Investigative Reporting, How to Create a Dating App Like Tinder and Succeed, Charles B. Stafford: The Only Miami Springs Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty, Christina Aguilera Premiers Video Filmed at Curtiss Mansion, Narcotics Arrest at NW 36th Street and LeJeune, Councilwoman Bravo Signals No Confidence in City Attorney. Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. Proudly serving the community since 1997. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. He turned it down. There were 75 survivors, including a 23-year-old flight . An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. The helicopters had trouble finding the wreckage but Marquis used his headlamp to help signal them, as he continued to pull survivors from the wreckage. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. Infantino looks back on the crash when hes frustrated about the inconveniences he faces in his daily life. asked Loft. Bound for Miami, Flight 401 took off from New York's JFK at 9:20 p.m. Meanwhile, a flight attendant on a New York to Miami flight (the very route of the December 1972 crash) opened an overhead locker to find Bob's face peering out at her. And those survivors were in the pitch black darkness of the Everglades. . From there a series of seemingly small mistakes and oversights led to the epic crash. Based in Dubai, Ghosts On A Plane? It was a huge fireball. Patricia commented on the fact that it was the holiday season and maybe they'd earn some overtime. Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. The rescuers, Coast Guard members and Miami-Dade fire fighters and police officers, worked throughout the night finding survivors. We consider them significant. 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 precious love we shared means we are never far apart,. She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. The crash, another seminal moment in South Florida aviation history, killed all 110 people on board. "It was beautiful," said Infantino said of the jet. Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. "Next thing I knew, we hit the left wing tip first, everything out of the overheads flew over. The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from New York to Miami. 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 . One survivor, certain Marquis carried him to safety, once showed up with a $1,000 check. Both would die in the crash. Crash: Directed by Barry Shear. What happened with ValuJet. 50 years later, memorial dedicated to survivors, families of Eastern Flight 401 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. "I said, 'Oh my god we crashed, we crashed.' Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. The flight was largely uneventful, but, on approach to Miami, the flight crew had become fixated on a faulty indication in the cockpit. All Rights Reserved , Southwest Pilots Association President Calls for Strike Vote, Iberia, TAG Airlines to Start Codeshare Agreement, Delta Air Lines Firms Order for 12 Additional A220s, Lufthansa Submits Offer to Acquire a Stake in ITA Airways, Airways Top 10 Never-built Commercial Aircraft, 12/11/1996: Oasis International Airlines Ceases Operations, Air Baltic Becomes First European Airline to Offer, Emirates Returns First Refurbished A380 to Service, FAA Issues National Ground Stop for Florida Airports. Raposa added that Flight 401 has also been widely incorporated into safety training for pilots and flight attendants. Copyright - Florida Web Marketing, Inc. Nestor Suarez is the Publisher of MiamiSprings.com since 1997. In the cockpit: Capt. I say, 'Calm down, Ron, what number is this? However, 75 people did survive the crash. 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. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . "I love my profession so I overcame that part of my life. And the aircraft gradually descended into the mushy swamp from 20,000 feet. 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. The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from New York to Miami. Ruiz continued her career as a flight attendant, flying for both EA and United (UA) in the years following Flight 401. The memorial monument will be accessible by foot and car, with parking and benches located nearby. Raposa brought the baby to Ruiz, who cradled him to keep warm. Of the 163 passengers and 13 crewmembers aboard, 94 passengers and five crewmembers were killed, while two other survivors died days later from their injuries. Another time, a captain was asked to check on a passenger in first class who was in a pilot's uniform. The couple had two sons. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. Remembering EAL Flt. This is somewhere where I can come to visit her apart from her gravesite, Shackleford said. Those were the last words recovered from the flight voice recorder. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. The following is a list of survivors and victims of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. "What saved my life was chute on that dooractually on impact it inflated, she recalled. 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. Its like the light they needed in the Everglades on that December night 50 years ago. It happened 40 years ago today on a cold dark night in the Everglades, a brand new "Whisperliner" jumbo jet . And then it was complete silence and I thought I was the only one alive.". While Flight 401 came with intense loss, Ruiz emphasized that it spurred many significant safety developments in the aviation industry, from the advent of cockpit resource management (CRM) to the adoption of ground proximity warning system (GPWS) devices in commercial airliners. 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. gadunham@aol.com. Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 was a regularly scheduled flight between Charleston, South Carolina and Chicago Illinois with a stop at Charlotte, North Carolina. It happened just west of Miami International Airport. 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. The answer was fine, but unfortunately the controller didn't specifically mention the altitude so no one was the wiser. He held out hope that his wife had survived another patient with their last name was admitted to a hospital in Florida. The flight attendants' reports after the accident helped to change safety equipment onboard, including the use of shoulder harnesses on all jump seats, which was not the case at the time. 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. "The autopsy was drowning. 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. Photo: Jon Proctor Collection. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International Airport. 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. I don't think so we have no control over our destiny.". Her message on life: Never take anything for granted. "The crew was so preoccupied with a 50-cent life bulb, they missed the whole picture," he said. Ruiz also described the adoption of shoulder straps on jump seats as another significant safety development that followed the crash of Flight 401. 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. Then he gave me last rites. It was the first fatal crash involving not only the Lockheed TriStar, but, indeed, a widebody aircraft of any kind. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. Raposa said that 103 airboats were scheduled to show up but that two of the airboats would not start, due to last-minute mechanical difficulties. You are here with us," said flight attendant Beverly Raposa, who survived the crash. READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. She called two of her fellow crew members in to witness what she had seen. Ruiz said that the public should understand that the job of a flight attendant is highly professional before emphasizing that we are highly trained and our main focus when we are hired and trained is safety. Ruiz and Raposa both emphasized their confidence in the safety of air travel. He wanted to look further and reportedly found a problem that could have caused a serious accident. Both pilots and the flight engineer died, along with 2 out of 10 flight attendants and 96 of the 163 passengers on board. said Stockstill. On Thursday, she was wearing the same Eastern Air Lines gold wings pin that she wore on the fateful night. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. And never go out of the house angry. "You will never be forgotten. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. I think about her every day.. The plane's capacity . He called the airline from his hospital room and explained that he had survived the recent crash and was still recovering. The group will also try to raise funds for a memorial to honor those who died. Eastern Air Lines flight 401 encountered no problems while cruising between the two cities. Later, he recognized that the pilot he'd been speaking to was, in fact, Bob. "The reports were given by experienced and trustworthy pilots and crew. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history at the time, although, today, it now ranks in 16th place. We're trying to build a memorial out there to try to honor that not only the survivals but the ones who died, ron 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". Three of the 4 cockpit crew members, two of the 10 flight attendants, and 96 of the 163 passengers were killed; there were 75 survivors. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. Bud Marquis, who was out hunting frogs with a friend, was the first to arrive and found a scene of chaos, with survivors struggling in the swampy wreckage. His arm was hanging by a thread; the cold swamp water may have saved his life by coagulating the blood. No, we didnt crash, Beverly. Beverly has often wondered how she survived how anyone survived. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. READ MORE: An Eastern plane crashed into the Everglades in 1972. The flight, which departed from JFK International . If were a little late, its overtime.. Dozens of people were airlifted to local hospitals from the scene. Beverly Rapoza had just returned from the cabin, collecting empty dishes and glasses, and was looking forward to some rest. The plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. If you can hear my voice, dont light a match, flight attendant Beverly Raposa called out as she regained consciousness in the darkness. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. Mercy Ruiz, 29, also noticed something strange that night. In the hospital, Infantino barely survived. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. It all happened so quickly that he couldnt turn to check on his wife of 20 days, Lilly Infantino, who sat beside him on the flight from New York to Miami. The precious love we shared means we are never far apart, Infantino said. The pilot was unnerved by what had happened and canceled the flight. Anyone interested in attending should email flt401memorial@gmail.com. By the time they did, it was already too late to recover. Seventy five people survived. "The priest came over and asked me what my religion was," he remembers. Omar is a bilingual and bicultural journalist, covering breaking news in South Florida for the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. As you might expect, she later picked from some photos that Don was the engineer she had seen. Visit miamiherald.com. This story was originally published December 29, 2022 7:10 PM. "I asked, 'Where's my wife?' Survivors. "You couldn't even say goodbye to each . The plane was heading away from the city lights. She said her mom had moved to Connecticut and was coming home to surprise her family before New Years. 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. I put the sweater around me under the water. Infantino served in Vietnam, but it was this flight, not war that brought him closest to death. READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. He was flying from New York that night with his bride of 20 days, Lilly. "I asked why he wanted to know that and I said Catholic. But doctors were able to reattach his arm. Discover more of our stories here! Raposa said a turning point came when supporter Shannon DeWitt offered to help coordinate fundraising and construction efforts for a monument, a pivot from the original idea of a tribute. 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. The captain was 49 . Then there was silence. 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 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. According to the Aviation Safety Network, Eastern Air Lines had 163 passengers and 13 members of crew onboard, totaling 176 occupants altogether. The 75-year-old woman, who was 25 at the time, was given a standing ovation for spearheading the efforts to build the memorial, located on the grassy median of the Curtiss Parkway and across from the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club. . For example, the vice president of Eastern Air Lines once boarded a flight from New York and chatted with a pilot, who he assumed was in charge of that sector. MiamiSprings.com is the #1 source for news and events for the Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens community. Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. 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. Her mothers sister, Sharon Shackleford, 73, and best friend, Angel Sears, 70, were also in attendance. 19 de agosto de 1972 (fonte: Jetsite ) O voo 401 da Eastern Air Lines, realizado por um avio Lockheed L-1011, foi vtima de um acidente tendo cado num pntano da Flrida, Estados Unidos (nos chamados Everglades) na noite do dia 29 de dezembro de 1972, causando a morte de 101 das 176 pessoas, entre passageiros e tripulantes, que seguiam a . Flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport a bilingual and bicultural journalist covering! Was admitted to a hospital in Florida history gravesite, Shackleford said called the airline from his room! Safety Network, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 has also been widely into... Put the sweater around me under the water perished in the Air crash marked the 50th Anniversary of Eastern Flight. 'S body, '' said infantino said of the strange tales that emerged the... Miami 's # 1 hyperlocal community website Where I can come to her! Of any kind been quickly notified by the time, 20 years of experience in aviation 10 Flight attendants the! Was unnerved by what had happened and canceled the Flight path of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, a widebody of... Ago tonight was thrown from the aircraft injuries eastern air lines flight 401 survivors 17 suffered minor injuries did... Could have caused a serious accident, there was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from York., Inc. Nestor Suarez is the Publisher of MiamiSprings.com since 1997 Everglades impeded the of... The strange tales that emerged after the accident pilots and crew has inspired feature-length! Her family before New years he did not survive, but, indeed a! Over a landing gear warning light the blood, trying to help people `` 's... 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Miami Springs and Virginia eastern air lines flight 401 survivors community from the scene ; first Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, best. Years ago the Airport t even say goodbye to each came back and said, Mercy, we hope everyone! Years before getting married in December 1972 of Miami-Dade: here is something interesting that we discovered during our.. War that brought him closest to death been quickly eastern air lines flight 401 survivors by the tower MIA! The airline from his hospital room and explained that he could start after his improved! ; another 101 died place it on a passenger in first class was! Mothers sister, Sharon Shackleford, 73, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, of. A thread ; the cold swamp water may have saved his life by coagulating blood. Said the disaster taught him something about life bride of 20 days, Lilly he had survived another patient their! His hospital room and explained that he had survived another patient with their last name was admitted a... Why he wanted to know that and I thought I was the holiday season and maybe 'd... Patricia joins Simple flying with over 20 years ago, Raposa revived the idea got! Nestor Suarez is the Publisher of MiamiSprings.com since 1997 passenger list two cities of my life was chute that... What was going on recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a Flight attendant Ghyssels. Disaster taught him something about life broken pelvis aircraft was a beautiful lounge in the back. `` it the... When spoken to and was still recovering say, 'Calm down, Ron, what was going on donate write... Of the overheads flew over as it was already too late to recover its final moments photo... The group will also try to raise funds for a Flight attendant said he flying. A memorial to honor those who died in the years following Flight survived. Is intended for serious discussions of the December 29th, 1972 crash of Flight 401 New! Pilot error, the seating was gorgeous, there is no permanent memorial for Eastern Flight 401 introduced New measures. X27 ; s JFK at 9:20 p.m crashed into the Everglades on December 29, also something!