With William Shatner, Adrienne Barbeau, Brooke Bundy, Christopher Connelly. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history at the time, although, today, it now ranks in 16th place. And then it was complete silence and I thought I was the only one alive.". 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. Ruiz said that the NTSB interviewed herself and other surviving crew members as part of the official accident report, each of whom agreed that flashlights represented one item they wished they possessed on the night of the crash. It happened 40 years ago today on a cold dark night in the Everglades, a brand new "Whisperliner" jumbo jet crashed in the swamp, killing 101. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. "It was beautiful," said Infantino said of the jet. The flight crew had not realized that the autopilot had been accidentally switched off and the aircraft was descending. The experienced flight crew was distracted when the landing gear light failed to come on, which they believed was caused by a blown bulb. Infantino started a commuter airline of his own, which later folded, and got married to his respiratory therapist, who also experienced heartbreak after losing her fianc in a drunk-driving accident. Were gonna wake up.. "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? Flight attendants Patricia and Stephanie tragically died in the crash, along with the flight crew. Eastern Airlines eventually ceased operations early in 1991. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Floridas deadliest airline disasters. One survivor, certain Marquis carried him to safety, once showed up with a $1,000 check. 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. Her mothers sister, Sharon Shackleford, 73, and best friend, Angel Sears, 70, were also in attendance. The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. "Well its difficult, we were only married 20 days, and we were both 26 years old, and she was my first love to be honest with you. The scene of the wreckage of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in the Everglades west of Miami International Airport. 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. 401 JFK-MIA Dec. 29, 1972. Eastern Air Lines flight 401 encountered no problems while cruising between the two cities. Amazingly, 75 of the 176 passengers and crew aboard Flight 401 survived. Crash: Directed by Barry Shear. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. As the crew crossed over the Florida Everglades, they were trying to lower the landing gear. Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . He reportedly then said, "Watch out for fire in this plane.". They were working all night with gear on the boots in the swamp and the mud.". I don't think so we have no control over our destiny.". 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. Patricia has a master's level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. Today Infantino will present two wreaths, one for Flight 401 and the other for Valujet, the 1996 Everglades crash that killed all 110 on board. On another day, a crew was in the cockpit of an aircraft when they were said to have seen Don sitting with them. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. 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 . Controllers gave their OK and told the crew to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet, as the plane, which had been over the airport turned back over the Everglades. The Ghost of Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. 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. The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. The aircraft operating the route, a Lockheed L1011-385-1 Tristar crashed into the Florida Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities. 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. She, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone. 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 . 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?" Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. The watercraft can easily traverse the swampy conditions of the Everglades and played an integral role in the rescue efforts that followed the crash. Based in Dubai, Ghosts On A Plane? Infantino looks back on the crash when hes frustrated about the inconveniences he faces in his daily life. 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. How could this have happened? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. Please review this photograph closely. The crash claimed the lives of 101 passengers and crew. . "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. "On the wreath I put, 'To our fellow brothers and sisters, in loving memory.' He didn't know it, but it was Robert "Bud" Marquis, who was out frog-gigging with a friend. 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 idea for a memorial for Eastern Flight 401 first popped up at the 35th anniversary gathering in the Everglades. And then it was like being in a tornado, I was in the tail and we were rotating, said Beverly Raposa, a flight attendant. It was so dark she couldnt see her hands in front of her. On the night of December 29th, 1972, he was a passenger on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami. Less pool space. Was it because we switched seats? Shelley and Steve Rubin and their unborn baby boy - Sandy Shapiro December 30, 2020 . Aboard were 13 crew members and 163 holiday travelers. Just before the plane hit, First Officer Albert Stockstill noticed the low altitude and told Loft about it. He called the airline from his hospital room and explained that he had survived the recent crash and was still recovering. ", "We're still at two thousand right?" But that turned out to be Infantinos uncle, who wasnt on the plane. And he said the disaster taught him something about life. A well-known fatal accident recounted from surviving cabin crew. Contact us: info@MiamiSprings.com Ruiz was 28 years old and had been working as a flight attendant for less than three years when the plane went down. Updated on: December 29, 2022 / 6:57 PM The jumbo jet had been making a late evening flight from New York to Miami. Both pilots and the flight engineer died, along with 2 out of 10 flight attendants and 96 of the 163 passengers on board. By the time they did, it was already too late to recover. But what was inside was the real prize: a Kodak Instamatic camera and rolls of film. Truth or scare? 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. Were talking about 75 people who have varying degrees of injuries and now have to navigate an airplane wreckage in the alligator infested swamp. "It went completely dark so I knew we were doing another go-round, not knowing what was going on," he said. "Hey, what's happening here?" Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. She downsized plans for the memorial so it could be completed while the remaining survivors are still alive. the first officer asked, and the captain immediately exclaimed "Hey, what's happening here?". Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. Eventually, all of the salvaged parts were removed from aircraft, and neither Bob nor Don were ever seen again. In the days following the crash, Infantinos mother brought him a pile of mail. Copies of that photo are now bound in a leather album that Eastern gave all the flight attendants of Flight 401 after the tragedy. The group wanted to balance their pose, so they stood in two lines of four with one of the flight attendants stretching out over the top of a closet. And he is delighted he will get to dine more often at one of his favorite restaurants, Kamiko Sushi Bar in Doral. The death toll was, in 1972, the highest of any one-plane accident. I put the sweater around me under the water. Based in Dubai, Photo: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Eastern Airlines Flight 401: A Cabin Crew Perspective, Avelo Air Seeing Strong Bookings For New Wilmington Base, Another JFK Incident: JetBlue Airbus A321 Bumps Into Parked Plane, European Airlines Plan To Hit Back At Short-Haul Flight Bans, The Rules & Regulations That Dictate The Hours That Cabin Crew Can Work, Bouncing Back: Libya To Hold Its First Aviation Forum This Weekend. But a light didnt confirm whether the landing gear was down. After a few minor issues were resolved, the plane was cleared for a 9 p.m. departure to Miami, as Flight 401 with 176 passengers aboard. 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. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. 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. The plane plunged into the Everglades after taking off from the Miami airport. I think about her every day.. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. 2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW #315 Raposa was one of 75 survivors. 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