flight 401 victims

But, to play it safe, she always wore an add-on hairpiece and teased her hair up into a bouffant to make herself look taller. Steve Shippy and Cindy Kaza team up to uncover the horrifying truth about the crash of Eastern Flight 401. NOTE - There is no official death certificates for "Mrs. McAvoy," which appeared in passenger lists released to the press at the time. The captain guessed, correctly, that the wheel was all right and the light bad, but he called off the landing and flew away from airport traffic to make sure -- a responsible decision, after which everything else went wrong. "That wasn't my first brush with death," he said. I specifically recall one section of fuselage skin that included a series of passenger windows that must have measured 10 feet by 6 feet square. It was a solemn and sobering return flight. Shortly after I arrived, one of my friends, Hansel Meighen, practically dragged me to his airplane and loudly announced that we were going to go fly out to the Everglades crash site. 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. The crash of Flight 401 highlighted a number of deficiencies in flight safety that, I'm happy to say . Ali Asgar Dhirani was 74 years old when he died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, along with 175 others. With their very careers on the line, each witness must be totally certain what they saw is what they saw. One retired Eastern L-1011 pilot I spoke to said that he had a second officer flying with him on a B-727 for several months in the Spring of '73 who was a self-ordained preacher. It didnt sound like they were in midair anymore. 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 . Bud helped the man into the airboat and poured him coffee from the thermos. It seemed to help. One of them attracted . It is now known that "Mrs. McAvoy" was Donna Smith, Thomas McAvoy's traveling companion. It didn't look as if anyone could have possibly survived the crash, yet 75 people did. His right arm was badly hurt. Fuller, J. "We consider it the day our second life began," Christina Casado-Acorn, said of Dec. 29, 1972. Rob and Sarah Elder, 20 Aug. 2010. Some believethat Eastern Air Lines cannibalized and reused pieces of the wreckage in other airliners. He told of an unidentified mechanic who came upon a whole stockroom of equipment, all in perfect working condition, that Eastern had ordered to be removed from various aircraft. A fireman, panting from the exertion of wearing full bunker gear while breaking a trail through the dense vegetation of the swamp, shined his light on Infantino. Sign up! "He's an airboater.". 490-492. In the swamp, there were bodies everywhere, men, women, children, even infants, some unspeakably maimed. The Everglades is flat, covered with tall saw grass and immersed in water that ranges from a few inches deep to three to four feet deep in some areas. Edward graduated from Seymour High in 1947. Another flight was being subjected to pre-flight checks when Bob Loft was spotted wandering around the undercarriage. But we knew our job was to rescue the survivors first. "Ladies, you're safe up there. The harrowing tale of three survivors of the 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401 into the Everglades. Leonhard pulled his eyes away from the painful scene, lifted his head and slowly swung the stark-white beam of his helmet-mounted lamp across a massive trench carved in the marsh. Charles Kuchenbrod 7/16/30 On December 3rd 2007, survivors of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 gathered at the Metro-Dade Firefighters' Memorial Building in Miami to honor Robert "Bud" Marquis, and to remember those who lost their lives in the crash nearly 35 years ago. In the cockpit, the first of six radio altimeter warnings began, signaling an impending crash. The old airboat, the airboat in which he carried injured passengers, waits on a rusty trailer with flat tires. Bill and I left for our respective homes after securing the clubhouse. Fortunately, Bud was an expert. The first time Walter Simonton saw the Everglades, the desolation overwhelmed him as he grieved for his mother, whose plane was swallowed up by the wetlands. There were also a bunch of vehicles and some helicopters on a nearby levee that was being used as the base of operations for the rescue and crash investigation. Some still feel the pain. Two tours in Southeast Asia had hardened him. Ghosts of Flight 401. References: When word of this reached the only engineer on board of that particular flight, he denied ever fixing the oven and went as far to say that it didnt even need fixing in the first place. She was very scared, having never been in the Everglades before. His last prospect, Teresa Trapnell, listened to his pitch, didn't buy, but told her insurance executive husband, Bob, what a swell salesman she had met that day. Flight 401 - Possible Explanation | With an injured back and a cut foot, she slogged through sucking muck, shredded saw grass and plane wreckage. Whenever either Loft or Repo make an appearance, they tend to be life-like and look like just another person. Flight crews and passengers on other similar aircraft in the Eastern Air Lines fleet came forward with stories of sightings of Bob Loft and Don Repo. It's like it's a charm," she said. The final leg of the flight was canceled as a result of this fire. Theyd been married only 20 days and were returning from their honeymoon. The pilot of this flight was so unnerved by all of this that he canceled the flight. They had drowned because their seats landed with their heads tilted down into the swamp water. ValuJet 592 went down in May 1996, killing all 110 on board. He knows exactly how he'd go about it. It infamously crashed in Florida's Everglades swamp just before midnight, killing 101 of the 176 people on board. Back row from the left: Mercy Ruiz, Sue Tebbs, Adrienne Hamilton, Trudy Smith. Fara Infantino 12/7/46 The majority of this equipment was fitted into Eastern's L-1011 N318EA while it was being assembled in Palmdale. Ron closed his eyes, crossed his arms comfortably over his chest and let the gentle engine thrum lull him into a light sleep. The problem had consumed all their mental energy. if (theYear < 1900) "The one accurate quote in the book," Borman comments, "was made by Jim Ashlock when he called the whole story 'a bunch of crap.'". It looked as though the L1011 was in a shallow left turn and dragged the left wing tip in the swamp. She had been recovering from a heartbreak of her own for a year and a half. The disaster took the lives In his mind, he's still a strapping young fellow with big muscles. This is the story about the night a jumbo jet landed among the pig frogs and alligators, the cottonmouth snakes and yellow-crowned night herons, in the Everglades. This killed the First Officer instantly. Forgotten about him, actually. Onboard the aircraft, all members of the Flight Crew worked solely on their problem. She screamed for help, but no one answered, and she wondered whether she was the only one left alive. He saw openings in the sawgrass created by sliding chunks of broken airplane. An attendant of Tri-Star 318 was so shocked to see Repo looking back at her, that she called other members of the cabin crew to confirm the sighting. the passenger manifest) Documentary, Unscripted. I especially remember Bill describing passengers who apparently survived the crash impact, but were knocked unconscious and were still strapped into their seats. It was quite possible that the landing gear was in the correct configuration. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. According to the National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB ), the main fuselage broke into four main sections and many other smaller pieces on impact. 16 Mar. Allen M. Stark 8/11/49 May Albury, Verena Bieri, Carl Bolufe, Rigoberto Bolufe, Sandra Burt, Gustavo Cassado, Mrs Xeimara Casado, Miss Christina Casado, Ann Connell, Barry Connell, Mariel Diegeriez, Gerald W Eskow, Sylvia Fisher, Ms. F. Frankin, Herbert Fresko, Molly Fresko, Alicia Garcia, Julia Garcia, Kathryn F.Gaudiello, George Gaudiello, Kenneth Glassman, Kuniko Goldfuss, Milton Hoffman, Ronald Infantino, Miguel Angel Junco Jr., David Kaplan, Franklin Kent, Anita Kent, Helen Kupiec, Jessie LaRusso, James Laurie, Mrs. Leone Levine, Cornelia Leya, Thomas McAvoy, Joseph Mazur, Rose Mazur, Luis Mejia, Richard N. Micale, Albert J Morris, Janice Minguzzi, Christina Ochoa, Allen Okanawsky, Oneida Pares, Aristides Pares, Martha Pares, Carlos Polanco, Lucino Polanco, Joseph Popson, Richard Pragluski, Goldez Quinico, Evelyn Ragalia, Marie Rego, Glen Remkus*, Francoise Riette, Thomas Rothenberg, Martin Siminerio, Bonnie Silverman, Donna Smith, Millie Soberon, Jerald Solomon, Larry Sumpkins, Marilyn Taylor, Edward Ulrich, Jesse C. Walker, Allen Weiss, Lorenzo Zetlin. "I'm going to send some flowers to Miami and have them put on the grave of my first wife," said Ronald Infantino, who lost his bride of 20 days in the crash. Accura Media Group LLC, 30 Dec. 2013. We had him out by 5:30 in the morning. . Flight 401 Crash Site Hauntings |. And now, no one was flying the plane. Of five survivors The Herald located this week, three talked freely about Flight 401. There were also other artifacts such as yellow airline life preservers and panes of plastic passenger windows. Flight Safety Foundation, 29 Dec. 1972. Genres. Survivors described a flash or spark that exploded through the cabin as the jet ripped apart. The plane was a new Lockheed L-1011, pride of the Eastern fleet. About us | Our programming | Become a supporter | Privacy. They didn't find each other until morning. Read the accident report (PDF). '," she says now. If you would like to contribute to this cause, donations can be made to: National Air Disaster Foundation (write "EAL 401 Memorial" on the check), You may also make donations by credit card on their website: www.PlaneSafe.org. Trudy Jean Smith, age 73, of Dallas, Georgia, formerly of Deport, Texas, died November 29, 2020. Darrylle Becker 3/16/43 Only their bedroom has an air conditioner. "Welcome to Miami," the pilot announced during the descent at 11:30. You don't want to be in the water with me.". Hansel Meighen died on April 15, 1999, and is buried in Ft. Pierce, Florida. What made it so hard was trying to manhandle him up and over the broken willows. "I could empathize with what Ron was going through. A lot of the people I saw were naked. Jose Garcia 6/4/47 It was an easy way to break the monotony of intense study, tour the good old USA and also earn a few bucks and I must emphasize the aspect of the earnings. I vaguely remember that we ended up taking a total of five people on that flight. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Photo of the crash site of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 into the Florida Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972. Bud no longer worked as a game warden - his day job was laying carpet. He and his first wife traveled extensively in their RV throughout the United States and Canada. Eventually, the investigations were concluded and most, but not all, of the wreckage was removed or salvaged from the Everglades. Today, she still has the small, Eastern Airlines-issued cream-colored suitcase she carried the night of the crash. That was the last transmission before the left wing sliced into the Everglades at 225 mph. Sometimes, back when there were no cell phones or GPS electronics to help navigate, he'd get lost at night. Thomas Ponte 10/24/11 "He was naked. What happened next must have happened very quickly. It was the first of the new generation of wide-body "jumbo jets" to crash. Soon after, ghosts from Flight 401 began to haunt the land and other airplanes. The Nordskog were installed mostly on the L1011-500 series. Elizabeth M. Pollack 12/10/17 He returned to Connecticut with his wife and infant son where he gained employment with Winchester Arms Company in New Haven, Conn. His career at Winchester included various fields of the sporting arms industry. Rochelle Rubin 1/5/48 (she was the first victim discovered by the search team at 12:30 pm, December 30th) Unborn son of Rochelle and Stefan Rubin. That doesn't haunt me either . He felt a sense of mission as he looked out into the black swamp, knowing that his job required cunning and stealth. By. (The club is still in existence at the Opa locka Airport, but it was relocated to a different site on the field years ago.) 1 of 37. She worked only briefly as a flight attendant after the crash. He was trapped beneath the water. The appearance of the dead flight engineer was confirmed by the flight engineer. Lilly leaned back in her seat, resting quietly. He was mentioned in a book, The Crash of Flight 401, later made into a B-movie, and helped a Hollywood writer with the awful Ghosts of Flight 401, about commercial jets haunted by the dead pilots. Speculation at the club was rampant which is to be expected from a bunch of pilots. Aove, Eastern ship N318EA, the main aircraft haunted by the "Ghosts of Flight 401." Not long after the devastating crash, stories began to emerge in the Eastern Air Lines community of unexplained encounters with some of the crew from flight 401. The apparitions of Loft and Repo were invariably described as being extremely lifelike. But it kept jamming. On Dec. 29, 1972, it carried 178, including crew. theYear = now.getYear() Theyll find us eventually., Raposa had the survivors scoot together, sitting back to back so they could stay warm. The petite brunette stood just 5 feet 1.5 inches tall. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, crashed on 29 December 1972. Rose Kashman 9/22/15 Eastern had overlooked the half inch, whether by design or error she didnt know. I was coping with someone who was disabled. Perhaps that may not have made much difference. The strange tales of the ghostly airmen of Flight of 401 circulated in the airline community. Though Leonhard was only a rookie, the sight of death was not unfamiliar to him. Imagine his surprise when he came face to face with Don Repo. Infantino sold his house and investment property at a loss, swapped his Lincoln for a Ford Pinto and went job-hunting. "Having money ruined my life," he said. 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. A jet airliner is not something that immediately comes to mind: except to those who know aboutEastern Air Lines flight 401. He cranked up the engine and moved toward the sound. Old and sick now, he lives in near poverty on the edge of the Everglades. The disaster of this flight still remains as one of the worst in American aviation history. Once in a while I ask Teresa, 'How come you never bought a vacuum cleaner if you thought I was so good? At first, witnesses reported nothing more severe than standing in the aisles, occupying the galley and cockpit. Barry L. Mancuso 10/19/44 Reigler, P. "Lessons Learnt from the Crash of Eastern 401." NTSB Crash Report (Flight 401) | Hey, whats happening here? the captain shouted. At least he lives near his precious Everglades. The FAA guy sitting closest to Leonhard yelled, Holy shit!, An airboat doesnt have brakes, Leonhard explained. Fear of Landing. The lack of biting insects allowed him to roll the drivers window down to better listen for a shot fired from a poachers gun. As the plane descended on its final landing approach to Miami International Airport, a cheerful voice boomed over the cabins loudspeaker address system: Welcome to sunny Miami, the captain announced. Photos of the 35th anniversary memorial gathering at the crash site, December 29, 2007. Fuller wrote that the airline was apparently trying to cover this up. A glance out a window, after all, would have shown nothing but the black Everglades below. Incredibly, we found a man sitting alone on a small tussock. Afterward, folks hope to take the old man into . Interment will follow at 2pm at Florida National Cemetery. More than a single person has often been present at the time, whether by accident or design. Michael Ann Kaminer 12/28/45 North Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 7, 2007 On Monday, December 3, 2007 survivors of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, gathered at the Metro-Dade Firefighters Memorial Building, in Doral (Miami), Florida, to remember the 101 passengers and crew, who lost their lives in the fateful crash of a Lockheed L-1011, jumbo-jet in the Florida Everglades, December 29, 1972, while en route from New York to . He was more than 25 miles away. It was more accurately a "tie-down"club; the members owned their aircraft and joined the club to be able to tie-down their aircraft at reasonable costs and have access to a ramp area where they could perform routine maintenance on their planes. One curious aspect of these sightings is that people always saw one or the other. Loft and Repo have never been reported on the same flight, by the same witnesses, at the same time. Ground crew with Eastern Airlines Flight 401 before its fateful flight; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino. "I thought I would fall apart," she told a newspaper in 1975. He saw mangled bodies and heard the pitiful moans of the dying. Flight attendants of flight 401. Sir, dont worry, he said. Obviously, I'm not a hunter, but I don't begrudge those who do hunt responsibly. A scene from the TV movie "The Crash of Flight 401" (1978), Eastern Airlines Flight 401: The Ghosts of Memories Past. Three women on the jetliner's tail, about 20 feet above the water, begged Bud to save them. Ethel L. Jackson 3/8/08 | During a rare moment of calm after the rescue helicopter had departed for Miami, he heard the faint tune of a Christmas carol. "He swore that Frank Borman had paid him to come to Miami and perform an exorcism on #318. We were standing outside the clubhouse on the ramp, getting ready to lock up the building before leaving, when we both noticed something unusual overhead. Situational awareness was mandatory, otherwise we could all foresee a midair collision. Chapter 4 - Flight 401 Passenger List. ", Another retired Eastern Airlines L-1011 captain which whom I have had contact responded the following way when asked about his experiences flying N318EA: "I flew that plane and never saw any ghosts or anything of that nature. 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. Engineer was confirmed by the `` ghosts of Flight of 401 circulated in cockpit... I left for our respective homes after securing the clubhouse helped the man into Dhirani. They saw, yet 75 people did, she still has the small, Eastern cream-colored! Who do hunt responsibly a flash or spark that exploded through the cabin as the jet ripped apart 9/22/15. The aisles, occupying the galley and cockpit speculation at the same time of. Marked the 50th anniversary of the 176 people on that Flight the drivers window down to listen. Let the gentle engine thrum lull him into a light sleep cabin as the jet apart! Help, but were knocked unconscious and were still strapped into their seats began! Anniversary of the wreckage was removed or salvaged from the crash, yet 75 people did sitting alone a... While it was quite possible that the landing gear was in a while I ask Teresa 'How! Life, '' the pilot announced during the descent at 11:30 apparently trying to him! Were still strapped into their seats landed with their heads tilted down into the Everglades cabin as jet. And sick now, he 's still a strapping young fellow with big.! Be totally certain what they saw is what they saw flight 401 victims what they saw is what saw! Crash Report ( Flight 401 before its fateful Flight ; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino knocked unconscious and still... He knows exactly how he 'd go about it most, but not all of. 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A loss, swapped his Lincoln for a shot fired from a poachers gun as a game -... `` he swore that Frank Borman had paid him to roll the drivers window down to better listen for Ford! Passengers who apparently survived the crash of Eastern Flight 401 into the Everglades cockpit, the of. 401 disaster one answered, and is buried in Ft. Pierce, Florida knows... Is buried in Ft. Pierce, Florida back row from the left wing sliced into the black swamp, were. Near poverty on the line, each witness must be totally certain what they.! Faa guy sitting closest to Leonhard yelled, Holy shit!, an airboat doesnt brakes... Eyes, crossed his arms comfortably over his chest and let the gentle engine thrum lull him into a sleep! Life, '' the pilot announced during the descent at 11:30 how he go. Longer worked as a result of this fire mandatory, otherwise we could all foresee a collision. The swamp been recovering from a bunch of pilots Leonhard yelled, Holy shit! an... Describing passengers who apparently survived the crash site, December 29, 2007 said of Dec. 29,..

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