This message board is intended for serious discussions of the December 29th, 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades on a moonless night on December 29, 1972. The Douglas DC-9-31 carried 78 passengers and four crew members. An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. There were 75 survivors. The name of Ronald Infantino's wife Lily is on that memorial. The left wing tip hit first. Its the holidays. "It felt so good. 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. READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. Flashlights also became a standard piece of safety equipment at each jump seat. It's certainly not a ten. If were a little late, its overtime.. "The autopsy was drowning. Expand the text below to read more about this . 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. 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. "My god, you're here, please don't leave me," he remembers telling them. "She said, 'I have to find my family, but here's my sweater.' The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. She came across a woman who found an 11-month-old baby as she scouted the wreckage for her son. "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Tell people you love them. He wanted to look further and reportedly found a problem that could have caused a serious accident. The flight was largely uneventful, but, on approach to Miami, the flight crew had become fixated on a faulty indication in the cockpit. It is open to the public. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 1pm on Curtiss Parkway, near the Miami Springs Golf Course. All of the bodies were recovered, 99 perished that night, two more would die from their injuries. Airboats represent a certain degree of sentimental value for survivors of Flight 401. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. 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. Mercy Ruiz, 29, also noticed something strange that night. There were also reports of Bob having been seen doing his pre-flight checks of the aircraft and telling the ground staff he'd already completed them. It was the first fatal crash involving not only the Lockheed TriStar, but, indeed, a widebody aircraft of any kind. They had not realized that the autopilot was disconnected, which ultimately caused the plane to lose altitude and crash. First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. Raposa would spend the next grueling hours fighting for those who survived the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. Raposa said she has flown for over 20 years for business, saying she sleeps like a baby every time she flies. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. 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. There were 75 survivors, including a 23-year-old flight . 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 . I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. Was it because we switched seats? Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. Her face was burnt, but the coolness of the swamp seemed a relief. Discover more of our stories here! 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. Beverly Raposa switched seats from her regular position in the galley for a flight from New York to Miami. The rescuers, Coast Guard members and Miami-Dade fire fighters and police officers, worked throughout the night finding survivors. https://new.miamisprings.com/images/news/pool-capture.jpg. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. On Dec. 29, theyll unveil a memorial in Miami Springs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Eastern crash. Her mothers sister, Sharon Shackleford, 73, and best friend, Angel Sears, 70, were also in attendance. Then, luggage shot out of the overhead bins. 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 . Beverly replied, 'No Mercy, we're down.' Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . This is somewhere where I can come to visit her apart from her gravesite, Shackleford said. The survivors were taken to a narrow levee where helicopters took them to hospitals. For Ruiz, the memorial will be a light in the darkness, a place to pray, reflect and remember the souls lost in the tragedy. 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. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history at the time, although, today, it now ranks in 16th place. 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. Throughout the course of aviation history, there have been several other ghost stories. On the returning flight, an engine failed and had to be shut down before it caught fire. She was dazed and disoriented but noticed a penlight flashing nearby. Located just across from the Miami Springs Country Club, survivors and families hope this memorial brings comfort 5 decades later. The Ghost of Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. The official cause of the crash was pilot error, the crew being distracted by a faulty nose gear indicator . His knee was badly dislocated, his shin able to swivel in any direction. Definition: Here is something interesting that we discovered during our research. She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. Eastern Air Lines flight 401 encountered no problems while cruising between the two cities. Expand All . He was offered the job. Survivors - Crew and Eastern Employees. "Same thing in our lives. The flight, which departed from JFK International . 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. 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 . Eastern Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, remains the worst aviation accident in Florida history. Seventy five people survived. And because it was pitch dark there were no visual cues outside to tell them they were about to hit the swamp. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. 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. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . Flight engineer Don Repo is also said to have appeared onboard flights in a strange, supernatural manner. It was all wet, but it felt good just to have something on me.". We also informed you that much of the money was going into creating more buildings. The captain, along with one of two flight crew members, two of 10 flight attendants, and 97 of 163 passengers, died; 75 . Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar jet that crashed into the Florida Everglades at 11:42 pm December 29, 1972, causing 101 fatalities (99 initial crash fatalities, two died shortly afterward). 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The plane, a new "Whisperliner," could transport 229 passengers. DALLAS December 29, 2022, will mark a half-century since the fatal crash of Eastern Air Lines (EA) Flight 401. 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. Thirteen seconds past 11:42 p.m., the plane flew into the Everglades and crashed almost 20 miles northwest of Miami International Airport and eight miles north of Tamiami Trail. "They put me in a helicopter and I'll never forget they gave me a warm blanket," he said. 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. McQuigg and Raposa went on to continue flying, with McQuigg still working in the profession. I carry those folks in my heart every single day, Raposa said of those who died in the tragedy. "It went completely dark so I knew we were doing another go-round, not knowing what was going on," he said. Both pilots and the flight engineer died, along with 2 out of 10 flight attendants and 96 of the 163 passengers on board. The incident occurred on September 11, 1974, killing 72 of the 82 people on board. But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. 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. 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. They were Stanich and Ghyssels, the two flight attendants who died in the crash. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. All rights reserved, WATCH LIVE: Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Roadway in Western Broward. Less pool space. Its an invasive species, Surfside candidate who lost election bid is now in jail on murder charges in Broward, Have you seen Maura Lockhart? One of them was Ron Infantino, an Air Force veteran in Vietnam and aviation aficianado. He was very dedicated," she said. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. "It banked to the left and those engines roared to take off power and we hit. From the 1972 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 in the Florida Everglades, to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the tragedies of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 resulting from faulty sensors on the Boeing 737 Max 8, Podhurst Orseck has grown from aviation litigation pioneer to the premier firm of its kind globally. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. While the crash has inspired two feature-length movies and numerous documentaries and training films, there is no permanent memorial for Eastern Flight 401. Fourteen people suffered burns, while 17 had only minor injuries and didn't need to be hospitalized, the NTSB report said. Shortly before the scheduled landing at about 11:30 that night, Lilly went to the restroom and when she came back they switched seats. So when Im stuck in traffic, I say, Ron, What number is this? There were 10 flight attendants in the main cabin serving 163 passengers. Was it a burned-out $12 bulb or a faulty landing gear? "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. The next, he was covered in water up to his chin. "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". 401 JFK-MIA Dec. 29, 1972. They were surprised to hear the sound of singing in the darkness. 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