eastern air lines flight 401 survivors

The name of Ronald Infantino's wife Lily is on that memorial. 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 . Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Floridas deadliest airline disasters. Those were the last words recovered from the flight voice recorder. "She said, 'I have to find my family, but here's my sweater.' It happened just west of Miami International Airport. Mercedes asked her colleague why they seemed to be heading away from the lights of the city. In November 2022, Airways interviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Ruiz said this began many, many years back with efforts to commemorate the victims from us, the surviving crew members, people close to the victims, and all of the people from our community who really wanted to join us.. The pilots engaged the autopilot so they could inspect the light and the landing gear but the darkness apparently made it hard to see. "I got a call from a mother whose son was killed on Valujet 592 and she said how much she appreciates us having a wreath for them," said Infantino, choking up. He says he thinks about the crash every day and it has defined the way he looks at life. The flight was largely uneventful, but, on approach to Miami, the flight crew had become fixated on a faulty indication in the cockpit. 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. The disaster took the lives Aircraft and crew The aircraft involved was a five-year-old McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 registered as N8984E, which was delivered to Eastern Airlines on January 30, 1969. Its just special to me that we are remembering all the people who lost their lives, Quinn said. The plane actually spun in a circle, the floor dropped and I woke up in the water," he recalled. Expand All . He was so weak that doctors opted to operate without anesthesia. At one point he noticed that his right arm didn't seem right. 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. But a light didnt confirm whether the landing gear was down. She was six feet above the swamp but released her harness. one of the deadliest plane crashes in South Floridas history, Were down. Flight 401 crashed in Miami 50 years ago. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. The harrowing tale of three survivors of the 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401 into the Everglades. All are South Florida survivors of the crash of Eastern Flight #401 now trying . READ MORE: The day when an Eastern Airlines jet crashed into the Florida Everglades. She encouraged them to sing Christmas carols to keep their spirits up, a mark of courage and stoicism in the face of a dire situation. Raposa added that Flight 401 has also been widely incorporated into safety training for pilots and flight attendants. Fourteen people suffered burns, while 17 had only minor injuries and didn't need to be hospitalized, the NTSB report said. Beverly Rapoza had just returned from the cabin, collecting empty dishes and glasses, and was looking forward to some rest. But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. Pieces of the aircraft scattered across the sawgrass. Infantino and three of the flight attendants who survived the crash spoke to NBC Miami as the 39th anniversary of the flight approached. 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. Nonetheless, at one point, efforts appeared to come to a standstill until the beginning of 2022, when Raposa, in a conference call, emphasized a desire for action ahead of the 50th anniversary. Love aviation history? She asked the flight engineer later about the oven, and he said he hadn't fixed it, and it didn't need to be fixed. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history at the time, although, today, it now ranks in 16th place. Now you can see the construction of the new pool with your own eyes. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. "The crew was so preoccupied with a 50-cent life bulb, they missed the whole picture," he said. Today's story is one of tragedy, of course, but it's also one of heroism and bravery. The answer was fine, but unfortunately the controller didn't specifically mention the altitude so no one was the wiser. Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, another Eastern Airlines CFIT . 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. "I number things one to ten in my life, ten's the plane crash," he says. "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. Raposa would spend the next grueling hours fighting for those who survived the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation McQuigg and Raposa went on to continue flying, with McQuigg still working in the profession. 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. Sometimes, it doesnt seem like 50 years.. In it, the crew pranked two of the flight attendants: one with devil horn fingers coming from her head and another jokingly grabbed by the neck. The cockpit crew, scrambling to identify the problem, got permission from air traffic control to circle the Everglades. 255153N 803543W. And then it was complete silence and I thought I was the only one alive.". A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. And never go out of the house angry. But today, for Infantino, is about Lilly and the other lost lives. Donations are still being accepted no matter what amount. By the time they did, it was already too late to recover. Since the flight was full, he exercised his privilege as an Eastern Airlines employee, and rode in the cockpit jumpseat. There were 75 survivors. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. 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. Omar is a bilingual and bicultural journalist, covering breaking news in South Florida for the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. Bound for Miami, Flight 401 took off from New York's JFK at 9:20 p.m. She, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone. Please enter valid email address to continue. Contact: brent@airwaysmag.com, 2022 Airways Publishing, LLC. 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. A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There were 75 survivors, including a 23-year-old flight . Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. One hundred and one lives were lost that late December evening, with 75 passengers and crew . Truth or scare? The monument will be located on the grassy median of the 700 block of Curtis Parkway in Miami Springs, Florida, just opposite the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club driving range. Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . 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. Less pool space. Beverly has often wondered how she survived how anyone survived. Beverly Raposa a survior of Eastern Flight 401 29th December 1972 crash of an L-1011, tail number N310EA explains her experience It is open to the public. Woman, 66, has been missing for weeks, Miami cops say, Date night: Ivanka Trump posts picture with Jared Kushner at this Miami hot spot, Miami to Palm Beach lawyers email trouble, aggravated battery, fighting disbarment, DeSantis appoints a Lourdes Academy staffer to the Miami-Dade School Board, Former state Rep. Grieco should have law license temporarily suspended, report says, A Coral Gables attorney suspended in 2020, disbarred in 2022 wants to be back by July, Suspect arrested after Miami gas station clerk is stabbed multiple times. Flight attendants Patricia and Stephanie tragically died in the crash, along with the flight crew. Those still in a sufficiently usable state were used again on the Eastern Air Lines fleet. the first officer asked, and the captain immediately exclaimed "Hey, what's happening here?". Then there was silence. She freed herself, then went to work saving others. After the impact the aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area approximately 1,600 feet long and 300 feet wide. "They were incredible," says Infantino. We'll probably never know. After the Tristar crashed into the Everglades, Ruiz said that Raposa, Left me laying down in a safe place, very cold and everything, but she made me as comfortable as possible. Its not a 10. . First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. The wreckage of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 lies in the Florida Everglades after the crash. In his first public comments since his highly publicized move from Atlanta United, Martinez told the Herald that his girlfriend, two-month-old son, and more than half his friends live in Doral. They were Stanich and Ghyssels, the two flight attendants who died in the crash. "I can't see it, it's pitch dark and I throw the little light, I get, ah, nothing," the second officer said, according to the report. Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. 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. He would later learn the voice came from flight attendant Beverly Raposa, who would later lead survivors in Christmas carols to try to keep their spirits up in the cold night. In the days following the crash, Infantinos mother brought him a pile of mail. 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. 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. The lights of Miami vanished behind them. 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. Why? Only nine smiling faces appear because one volunteered to take the photo. 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. I try to do that but I'm human so it doesn't always work out.". Miami, Florida: Bankrupt Eastern Airlines Jets On The Ground. Promote your organization with Miami's #1 hyperlocal community website. And she knows what I went through, so you have that same bonding with one another.". They were exhausted. He reportedly then said, "Watch out for fire in this plane.". Eastern Airlines Flight #401 (L1011 N310EA) crashed in the Everglades on December 29, 1972. ", But he was worried about Lilly. 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. She downsized plans for the memorial so it could be completed while the remaining survivors are still alive. 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 yelled, 'Don't anybody light any matches in the Everglades,' which was smart because of all the jet fuel.". 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. No, they dont, Raposa, now 75, recalls telling Stanich. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. For Ruiz, the memorial will be a light in the darkness, a place to pray, reflect and remember the souls lost in the tragedy. Infantino served in Vietnam, but it was this flight, not war that brought him closest to death. The crash of Eastern Flight 401. Definition: Here is something interesting that we discovered during our research. In another part of the Everglades, flight attendant Mercy Ruiz shivered, her body soaked in kerosene. Give or take a word, the announcement is remembered verbatim by virtually every survivor. Eastern Airlines eventually ceased operations early in 1991. Unfortunately, 101 passengers and crew perished in the accident. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. The captain was 49 . Please review this photograph closely. Tell people you love them. The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. At the start of 2022, Raposa remembered her promise to honor those who lost their lives on the flight. Miami, Florida: A young survivor of an Eastern Airlines Tristar jet which crashed in the Everglades near Miami is helped from a helicopter by hospital personnel in Miami. It also marked the first the first jumbo jet to crash. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "I don't know where she was. "I'm no doctor. 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. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. On Dec. 29, theyll unveil a memorial in Miami Springs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Eastern crash. Seventy five people survived. It was a huge fireball. I can also come here to feel her and be close to her.. She said her mom had moved to Connecticut and was coming home to surprise her family before New Years. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. Based in Norwich, UK. Ruiz also described the adoption of shoulder straps on jump seats as another significant safety development that followed the crash of Flight 401. Another time, a captain was asked to check on a passenger in first class who was in a pilot's uniform. Tomorrow is not a given, she said. Thus, Raposa continued, It was 101 airboats that actually went out there, and we lost 101 souls. In addition to the airboats, Ruiz described freefalling white flowers from small aircraft overhead. He said 401 needs a memorial not only for those who died but for its importance in airline safety. "It was so cold I can't describe it.". "They'll never be forgotten.". The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. As you might expect, she later picked from some photos that Don was the engineer she had seen. Those are the last moments Ron Infantino, 76, who now lives in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out. 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 . The plane, a new "Whisperliner," could transport 229 passengers. The Lockheed L-1011 was the pride of the Eastern fleet and the first of a new generation of wide-body jumbo jets to crash. As frog hunters who witnessed the crash helped rescue survivors, Raposa led those remaining in renditions of Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. The last group was rescued at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, almost four hours after the crash. MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. He was offered the job. 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. Local 10: Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story; Flamingo Magazine: Flight 401 Down in the Glades; Read the Story! "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? The pilot Bob Loft and the flight engineer Don Repo were two of the 101 people who perished in the air crash. The official cause of the crash was pilot error, the crew being distracted by a faulty nose gear indicator . "It went completely dark so I knew we were doing another go-round, not knowing what was going on," he said. The pair also described takeaways for the public around aviation safety to go along with memorial efforts for Flight 401. The City of Miami Springs, Raposa emphasized, provided intense, intense support with the involvement of the mayor, the city manager, and the municipal public relations team. Beverly Raposa switched seats from her regular position in the galley for a flight from New York to Miami. Crash: Directed by Barry Shear. Edit. 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. Raposa, who now lives in Broward County, studied to become a flight attendant just steps away from the memorial site. She went on to praise the efforts of Raposa, who sang Christmas carols to maintain morale among survivors as they waited for rescue. 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. READ MORE: An Eastern plane crashed into the Everglades in 1972. The following is a list of survivors and victims of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. On Thursday, she was wearing the same Eastern Air Lines gold wings pin that she wore on the fateful night. According to the Aviation Safety Network, Eastern Air Lines had 163 passengers and 13 members of crew onboard, totaling 176 occupants altogether. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. So when Im stuck in traffic, I say, Ron, What number is this? On duty that day was also Stephanie Stanich, Trudy Smith, Sharon Transue, Beverly Rapoza and Dorothy Warnock. 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. 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. And those survivors were in the pitch black darkness of the Everglades. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades on a moonless night on December 29, 1972. 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. No, we didnt crash, Beverly. This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. The couple had two sons. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. said Stockstill. "It save me from the 400 pounds of debris that was falling on me," she said. "You will never be forgotten. The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. Flight Capt. Perhaps the most extraordinary and credible research into the ghost phenomenon ever documented is the so-called "Ghosts of Flight 401."On December of 1972, an Eastern Airlines Tri-Star jetliner, Flight 401, crashed into a Florida swamp.Read the accident report (PDF). The crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, along with other major air disasters around the same time, eventually led to a number of aircraft safety enhancements, including crew resource management, which has procedures for decision making in cockpits to try to eliminate human error. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. 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. Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. Sharon and Adrienne were injured and trapped in their jump seats. "The priest came over and asked me what my religion was," he remembers. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. There were 10 flight attendants in the main cabin serving 163 passengers. I have a beautiful family, and I got my wings back, and I just keep moving forward, said McQuigg. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. 2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW #315 This commemorative event in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among survivors and supporters. It helps me put life in perspective, you see.". He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. DALLAS December 29, 2022, will mark a half-century since the fatal crash of Eastern Air Lines (EA) Flight 401. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from New York JFK to Miami.Shortly before midnight on December 29, 1972, the Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar crashed into the Florida Everglades, causing 101 total fatalities. 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. Was it because we switched seats? Patricia has a master's level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. I didn't know what to do.". All of the bodies were recovered, 99 perished that night, two more would die from their injuries. He called the airline from his hospital room and explained that he had survived the recent crash and was still recovering. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. I think about her every day.. She said it was ironic that he died in one of his favorite places in the world the Everglades. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. Its closure; its been a long time coming, she said. Infantino and the flight attendants will meet with airline experts and the public to tell them never to become complacent. Forty-five years ago, when Officer Gray Leonhard of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission began a solo night patrol in the Everglades, he was on the lookout for poachers, drug smugglers and maybe even a bullet-riddled corpse. "Same thing in our lives. That also gave me an impression like the two girls were marked, Ruiz said.

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