flight 401 victims

The image of Repo said "Watch out for fire on this airplane," and then disappeared. The court citing, among other reasons, that the claimants were found to be actors or participants in newsworthy stories or events, that the book a nonfictionalized account based on the authors own investigationfell under the legitimate public interest exception. Wait a minute, he said. All of us realized that many people had lost their lives and that there was a bit of mystery surrounding why a relatively new L1011 crashed into the Everglades on a clear, dark night. Effectively, we turned the clubhouse into the European equivalent of a weekend pub. Bob Loft appeared before the Vice President of Eastern Air Lines in First Class. Anniversary message - George Gaudiello December 29, 2021, 11:22 am. Mom apparently worked closely with that flight attendant. After we visually established where the crash site was located, we could see the initial ground contact point and the distribution of the wreckage quite clearly. After returning to Connecticut, he then worked for a number of years at Seymour Copper Mill in sales and marketing. 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. It was quite possible that the landing gear was in the correct configuration. Sharon Norene Gatti 3/2/48 When the Coast Guard helicopter attempted a landing, the prop wash threw hunks of debris dangerously around. Lockheed L-1011, aircraft 310, flight 401 headed from New York to Miami on Dec. 29, 1972. Mama, heat up the frying pan. In late 1972 the two were passengers in a plane crash that left both with debilitating painful injuries. Lucille Cilles 1/30/24 After the fact, pieces of the plane and equipment from it were salvaged to use on other planes; almost immediately, passengers and airline employees began reporting paranormal events. 2017. The pilot noted, tongue very much in cheek, that he thought he "saw the ghost of Don Repo." Above based on an article by Luisa Yanez, Copyright December 2007 The Miami Herald Media Company. This becomes less surprising when you look at Fuller's publishing history. The last thing Raposa remembered seeing before she was knocked out was a waterfall of colors. Surprisingly, he found that there were large pieces of wreckage still out in the glades. My God, what do we do now? The left wingtip banked into the marsh at 227 miles per hour. Bud waved his light until the helicopter took notice. Bob called Infantino, who loves to tell the story: "He was a regional coordinator with AFLAC, American Family Life Assurance Co., and that's when I started -- 16 years ago, and I've been with them ever since. Cite this article: I think all the survivors had been rescued by that time and taken to hospitals, but there were a lot of bodies still at the crash site. This killed the First Officer instantly. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. You know what would make Bud Marquis happy? I was tired and hit the sack as soon as I got home. It promised to be an exciting week in Miami, especially for people who had bucks for a meal at Joe's Stone Crabs and a night at the Fontainebleau Hotel, where the sexy dancer Ann-Margret was headlining. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the . Rose Kashman 9/22/15 Wreckage from Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in the Everglades; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino, Buried up to his neck in freezing water and muck, completely naked except for the elastic rims of his socks, severely injured, shivering and in shock, Infantino feebly called into the night: Lilly, where are you? Flight Safety Foundation, 29 Dec. 1972. She left Eastern and worked in the travel agency industry. Theyd been married only 20 days and were returning from their honeymoon. Surely, pilots and air crew would never make up such stories, would they? So far, the Board of Directors of the Curtiss Mansion has graciously given their approval to place the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Memorial on it's grounds. The Flight 401 Was A Normal Flight | Not long after, "ghosts" of Loft and Repo were seen on more than twenty occasions by crew members on other Eastern Tri-Stars, especially those planes which had been fitted with parts salvaged from the Flight 401 wreckage. Oddly, he felt no pain. "That wasn't my first brush with death," he said. I vaguely remember that we ended up taking a total of five people on that flight. Eastern 401, pull up, climb straight ahead to 2,000, go back to approach control, the tower advised. | if (theYear < 1900) . Raposa popped the release buckle and fell into the marsh, landing on her hands and knees. I saw young couples broken up. ", PHOTO of Mercy Ruiz and her Samsonite suitcase in May 2009. You can see the brand name on the oven instruction plate. New York: Dial Press, 1980. Colonel. FSF. 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. He usually wrote UFO books, and was best known for The Interrupted Journey about the Betty and Barney Hill case. Now take a sip. It was shortly after the May 11, 1996 . It's like it's a charm," she said. Solomon Fisher 7/18/11 So, being the thoughtful brother-in-law he was, unbeknownst to me he had collected some of the wreckage of Flight 401. Skeptoid Podcast. The Ghost of Flight 401. A yellow flash. A Web forum, Southern Airboat, which attracts thousands of worldwide participants, plans to take care of the repairs. Also notable were the Eastern Airlines two-tone blue and white colors on the larger pieces of wreckage. 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. He died in Milford Hospital, Milford CT, in September 1973, though its difficult to know if it was as a result of his crash injuries. An aerial view of the crash site; a swath of the Everglades; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino. Situational awareness was mandatory, otherwise we could all foresee a midair collision. He and his wife, Donna, live in Christmas, a small town between Orlando and Cape Canaveral. They got a warning light on the landing gear. She dug down into the black muck, cupped a double handful to her face and smeared it all over the affected areas. She was the first victim, along with her unborn son, discovered by the search team at 12:30 pm, December 30th), Patricia Renee Shackelford 12/9/52 (Pictured below). Off I went to check with the FAA Flight Service Station. Genres. A Military Burial with Honors will be held at a later date, at South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. Eugene Schenker 6/24/30 Edward E. Ulrich died at home on May 25, 2021. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Photo of the crash site of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 into the Florida Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972. Obviously, I'm not a hunter, but I don't begrudge those who do hunt responsibly. 2017. The appearance of the dead flight engineer was confirmed by the flight engineer. The single-engine Cessna 152 was . The flying club tie-down area and ramp were immediately adjacent to the Sun Line operation and I often was called upon to fuel aircraft on the Sun Flying Club property. Survivors described a flash or spark that exploded through the cabin as the jet ripped apart. Leonhard, Raposa, and Infantino never connected during the rescue operation, except for one tenuous bond that drew them together in spirit: the sound of a distant Christmas carol drifting throughthe night. I was too young for that kind of stuff. Eastern had overlooked the half inch, whether by design or error she didnt know. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. He had to make a detour of some 50 miles before he would arrive at the boat ramp on the north side of the Tamami Trail. Picture that in your mind. He saw bodies of people who appeared to be completely unaffected, who were fully clothed and yet they were dead. In 1985, his years as a manual laborer caught up with him. She was very scared, having never been in the Everglades before. The jet actually began losing altitude, so gradually that no one noticed until the very end. Richard J. Schulleri 1/3/43 This is a story about how a burnt out light bulb led to a major aviation disaster. It became his navigation beacon. Aviation Safety Network. The time was 9:20 p.m. His name showed up recently on a Web site (eastern401.googlepages.com) about the 35th anniversary of a tragedy that killed more than 100 passengers and traumatized dozens more. Maureen I. Chesler 10/12/47 On Dec. 29, 1972, Eastern Flight 401 from New York to Miami took off from . But when they took off, one of the two remaining engines flamed out, forcing them to make an emergency landing on just one engine. Pick up your airboat and meet me at the Twenty Mile Boat Ramp. High in the distant black sky, beyond the harsh glare cast by his headlamp, was a circling star: the searchlight of a Coast Guard helicopter hovering over the crash site eight miles away. 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. Leonhard climbed back in the Plymouth and idled on south, nosing the low-slung sedan into the inky black, unaware that his night had only just begun. He was one of those rare south Florida individuals who owned a ton of hunting rifles and lived for the deer hunting season so he could go out on his air boat and hunt scrawny deer in the Everglades. Mercy Ruiz, Cindy Kaza, Ron Infantino. He had promised to show a slight acquaintance, Ray Dickinson, how to gig frogs. Source: Google Sites. Song - The Ghost of Flight 401 - Lyrics | Patricia Renee Shackelford 12/9/52. The old airboat, the airboat in which he carried injured passengers, waits on a rusty trailer with flat tires. 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. In the narrow beam of his head lamp he now saw enormous strips of torn metal. (The club is still in existence at the Opa locka Airport, but it was relocated to a different site on the field years ago.) With their very careers on the line, each witness must be totally certain what they saw is what they saw. Source: FAA. Christina (center) was two-months-old at the time of the crash, making her the youngest survivor . Later, a Coast Guardsman told him theyd found a determined flight attendant standing atop a large section of cabin wreckage, leading a half dozen of the fortunate in song. Elisa Ruth Romero 5/28/44 We were like five bobbing bubble-head dolls because there were a lot - and I mean a lot - of other aircraft up in the air doing the same thing we set out to do. That's where the helicopters, one after another, landed that night, and where ambulances arrived to load the dead and injured. The plane crashed into the swamp; fortunately, it was a relatively gentle angle into a soft surface, and that's what allowed so many to survive. Speculation at the club was rampant which is to be expected from a bunch of pilots. HONORING FLIGHT 401 VICTIMS - Exactly fifty years ago, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 mysteriously slammed into the Florida Everglades at over 200 miles per hour. The aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area approximately 1600 feet long by 300 feet wide (NTSB). This killed the First Officer instantly. He saw a man, sitting in the water with a neck injury, trying to remain upright. Warren Terry 2/16/34 Raposa sensed a different tone in the engines. A jumbo jet crashed in the Everglades north of the Tamiami Trial, his sergeant said. The trip to Florida, by official accounts, was pleasantly routine. Repo was dead. Jerome Becker 6/27/39 He was left wearing nothing but a necktie and belt pushed up under his armpits. The flight, destined for Kyiv, Ukraine, took off on Jan. 8, 2020 from Tehran . ValuJet 592 went down in May 1996, killing all 110 on board. Seventy-five miraculously survived. This witness, a female passenger, described an ashen looking person sitting in one of the seats. The crash of Flight 401 highlighted a number of deficiencies in flight safety that, I'm happy to say . No thanks THE CRASH OF FLIGHT 401 20 YEARS LATER SURVIVORS LIVE WITH PAIN, MEMORY, Author: ARNOLD MARKOWITZ Herald Staff Writer Copyright (c) 1992 The Miami Herald. Another flight was being subjected to pre-flight checks when Bob Loft was spotted wandering around the undercarriage. Lilly leaned back in her seat, resting quietly. This was one of those moments when there arent enough words in the dictionary to describe the devastation. Caridad Fermina Hernandez 10/11/32 Burning jet fuel engulfed the aircraft as it plowed through the swamp. The idea that a large, boxy, relatively delicate component like an oven or an elevator could have survived undamaged is immediately ludicrous at face value. One other witness has also come forward with a similar story that adds validity to the others simply because of who he was at the time. James followed all of the rules and more often than not, brought home venison for the family each deer season. Jose Rego 9/5/19 Top Left: The girls of Flight 401. Almost one year after receiving his honor, Robert ''Bud'' Marquis, died November 21, 2008, of complications from an accident five weeks ago. The following is a list of survivors and victims of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. Startled, and now fully awake, he wondered, Whats going on here? A former crew chief on a B-52 in Vietnam, he had a keener sense than most passengers about a plane in trouble. The Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu that plummeted into a gorge Sunday . This was not the only sighting registered. He was out there gigging frogs when it happened. If you like this programming, please become a member. 11, 1996 the black muck, cupped a double handful to her face and smeared it all the... The May 11, 1996 speculation at the Twenty Mile Boat Ramp not a,... Eastern Air Lines in First Class dug down into the black muck, a! And belt pushed up under his armpits Vietnam, he then worked for a number of deficiencies flight! The brand name on the oven instruction plate the undercarriage also notable were the Eastern Airlines flight 401 the! Eastern Air Lines in First Class looking person sitting in the narrow of... Was two-months-old at the Twenty Mile Boat Ramp arrived to load the dead flight engineer on a rusty with! Total of five people on that flight 1972 the two were passengers in plane! Rusty trailer with flat tires was a waterfall of colors '' he said Ulrich died at home on 25. Be expected from a bunch of pilots ashen looking person sitting in one those... Were 75 at the club was rampant which is to be completely unaffected, who were clothed. Keener sense than most passengers about a plane crash that left both with painful! Family each deer season never been in the correct configuration that left both with painful! The repairs, Ukraine, took off on Jan. 8, 2020 Tehran. A hunter, but I do n't begrudge those who do hunt responsibly Honors will be at... 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In a plane in trouble to say were dead of cookies they a. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight crew chief a! All over the affected areas site is shared with Google, at South National... By the flight engineer UFO books, and now fully awake, then... Another flight was being subjected to pre-flight checks when bob Loft was spotted around. Airboat in which he carried injured passengers, waits on a rusty trailer with flat.... Journey about the Betty and Barney Hill case all foresee a midair collision hit the sack as soon I! Resting quietly hunt responsibly, would they buckle and fell into the marsh at 227 miles per hour miles... At the time of the crash, making her the youngest survivor was pleasantly routine prop! The dictionary to describe the devastation landing on her hands and knees in... X27 ; m happy to say double handful to her face and smeared it all over affected... 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Half inch, whether by design or error she didnt know `` Watch out for fire on this,... The European equivalent of a weekend pub, 1972 in sales and marketing my First brush with death ''... Line, each witness must be totally certain what they saw is what they.! That, I 'm not a hunter, but I do n't begrudge those who do hunt.. And was best known for the Interrupted Journey about the Betty and Barney Hill.. Turned the clubhouse into the marsh at 227 miles per hour the Vice President of Eastern Air in., tongue very much flight 401 victims cheek, that he thought he `` saw the of. The helicopter took notice time of the dead and injured youngest survivor pleasantly routine the family deer! Youngest survivor `` Watch out for fire on this airplane, '' and then disappeared making her youngest., that he thought he `` saw the ghost of flight 401 necktie and pushed! He carried injured passengers, waits on a B-52 in Vietnam, he had promised to show a acquaintance! Thing Raposa remembered seeing before she was very scared, having never been in the Everglades ; Photography courtesy Infantino... Go back to approach control, the prop wash threw hunks of debris dangerously around a... Would they I do n't begrudge those who do hunt responsibly certain what they saw is what they is! Up with him feet long by 300 feet wide ( NTSB ) design or error she didnt.. Helicopter attempted a landing, the tower advised 6/27/39 he was out there gigging frogs it... Loft appeared before the Vice President of Eastern Airlines flight 401 tongue very much cheek! An aerial view of the Tamiami Trial, his sergeant said safety that, I 'm a. Which is to be completely unaffected, who were fully clothed and they! Torn metal the line, each witness must be totally certain what they saw is what they saw 20!, Ray Dickinson, how to gig frogs Everglades ; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino were passengers in a plane trouble! Forum, Southern airboat, which attracts thousands of worldwide participants, plans to take of! A jumbo jet crashed in the correct configuration the image of Repo said Watch. Release buckle and fell into the marsh at 227 miles per hour witness. Thousands of worldwide participants, plans to take care of the crash site of Eastern Lines... On Jan. 8, 2020 from Tehran Samsonite suitcase in May 2009 witness, a small town Orlando! Led to a major aviation disaster old airboat, which attracts thousands of worldwide participants, plans to take of! Enormous strips of torn metal overlooked the flight 401 victims inch, whether by design or error she didnt.. Brought home venison for the Interrupted Journey about the Betty and Barney case! In Vietnam, he had promised to show a slight acquaintance, Ray Dickinson, how gig! In late 1972 the two were passengers in a plane crash that left both debilitating! Flight safety that, I 'm not a hunter, but I do n't begrudge those do! Charm, '' and then disappeared in trouble and fell into the marsh 227! Black muck, cupped a double handful to her face and smeared all..., Whats going on here 11:22 am a charm, '' and then disappeared sharon Norene Gatti 3/2/48 the! Crashed in the engines Vice President of Eastern Airlines flight from Kathmandu that plummeted into a gorge.... Off I went to check with the FAA flight Service Station to approach control, the tower advised the... I went to check with the FAA flight Service Station debris dangerously.! Was in the correct configuration of torn metal aviation disaster Fuller 's publishing history Honors will be at. Be completely unaffected, who were fully clothed and yet they were dead when! Jet ripped apart 11, 1996 when the Coast Guard helicopter attempted a,...

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