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. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, another Eastern Airlines CFIT . Located just across from the Miami Springs Country Club, survivors and families hope this memorial brings comfort 5 decades later. 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. Was it a burned-out $12 bulb or a faulty landing gear? She noticed that the engines sounded different, and the aircraft jolted. Beverly Raposa switched seats from her regular position in the galley for a flight from New York to Miami. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. According to a National Transportation Safety Board report, the pilots placed the landing gear handle down but noticed the green light that indicates that the nose landing gear is fully extended and locked failed to illuminate. "I'm one person in the midst of all this," Marquis told NBC News back in 2007. 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. Eastern Airlines Flight #401 (L1011 N310EA) crashed in the Everglades on December 29, 1972. We consider them significant. Flashlights also became a standard piece of safety equipment at each jump seat. Were talking about 75 people who have varying degrees of injuries and now have to navigate an airplane wreckage in the alligator infested swamp. Theres another photo Ruiz has analyzed over the years. Advertise: Call 305.775.4094 or email: There's so many good things, positive things came out of Flight 401, that this plane crash can never happen again with all the safety features put on it, said Infantino. 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. It was like a tornado. Raposa, who worked in a travel agency after leaving Eastern, reminds herself to not leave the house angry and to tell her loved ones how much she cares for them because returning is never a guarantee. Beverly replied, 'No Mercy, we're down.' This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. Contact us: info@MiamiSprings.com We're trying to build a memorial out there to try to honor that not only the survivals but the ones who died, ron The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades on a moonless night on December 29, 1972. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. The flight had left JFK Airport in New York en-route to Miami International Airport when it went down shortly before midnight on Dec. 29, 1972, in the swampland some 18 miles west-northwest of the airport. So when Im stuck in traffic, I say, Ron, What number is this? Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Tell people you love them. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. Ultimately, the probable cause was determined to be "the failure of the flight crew to monitor the flight instruments during the final 4 minutes of flight, and to detect an unexpected descent soon enough to prevent impact with the ground," the NTSB report said. 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. 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. 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. Flight 401 - Flight Crew Fatal Photograph. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. I say, 'Calm down, Ron, what number is this? Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. "She said, 'I have to find my family, but here's my sweater.' one of the deadliest plane crashes in South Floridas history, Were down. Flight 401 crashed in Miami 50 years ago. I didn't know what to do.". Raposa was one of 75 survivors. But before we begin this spooky tale, we must first go back to December 29, 1972 on board Eastern . The plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. He has a masters degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelors degree in education from the Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ro Piedras. The four-month-old L-1011 TriStar jet crashed into the Florida . Miami Springs, a bedroom community bordering Miami International Airport, was home to many Eastern employees in the 1970s and 80s. Eastern Air Lines L-1011 Tristar Airbus, on NYC-Miami flight with 177 persons aboard, crashes into Everglades on Dec 30 while on landing approach to Miami Internatl Airport; early repts indicate . However, the indicator light failed to show that the landing gear was locked down. He couldn't move. I have a beautiful family, and I got my wings back, and I just keep moving forward, said McQuigg. Bud Marquis raced to the scene to assist survivors and he used his head-mounted light to signal the first U. S. Coast Guard HH-52A as to where . The death toll was, in 1972, the highest of any one-plane accident. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. "They were incredible," says Infantino. The captain was 49 . Her message on life: Never take anything for granted. "She yelled, 'Don't anybody light any matches in the Everglades,' which was smart because of all the jet fuel.". 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. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. 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. In 2015 we warned you that the new Miami Springs pool was going to be much smaller than the grand olympic sized pool we had for over 50 years. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. The rescuers, Coast Guard members and Miami-Dade fire fighters and police officers, worked throughout the night finding survivors. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. After placing a seat cushion under Ruizs head, Raposa left to search for other survivors. On Thursday, she was wearing the same Eastern Air Lines gold wings pin that she wore on the fateful night. He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. The lights of Miami vanished behind them. Contact: brent@airwaysmag.com, 2022 Airways Publishing, LLC. (Ron Infantino) On the 29th of December 1972, an Eastern Air Lines Lockheed L-1011 Tristar landing in Miami, Florida plowed into the Everglades well short of the airport, throwing dozens of survivors into a grisly fight for survival. It also marked the first the first jumbo jet to crash. While making preparations to land, the crew are distracted by a faulty landing gear indicator light and accidentally disengage the autopilot while trying to resolve the problem. Proudly serving the community since 1997. "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. . On the night of December 29th, 1972, he was a passenger on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami. A series of errors brought down the plane that December night, between Christmas and New Years. If you can hear my voice, dont light a match, flight attendant Beverly Raposa called out as she regained consciousness in the darkness. The investigation into the crash took months. READ MORE: There was another tragedy in Miami after Eastern Flight 401. According to DeWitt, the monument also represents how through a terrible tragedy in Flight 401, the industry eventually put safety first in many ways.. Infantino looks back on the crash when hes frustrated about the inconveniences he faces in his daily life. Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story. Survivors and family members unveiled a memorial Thursday afternoon in Miami Springs paying homage to the 101 souls who perished 50 years ago in one of the deadliest plane crashes in South Floridas history. The scene of the wreckage of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in the Everglades west of Miami International Airport. "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". "It felt so good. 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. She asked fellow flight attendant Patricia Ghyssels, who sat across from her, what was going on. "They'll never be forgotten.". Infantino and the flight attendants will meet with airline experts and the public to tell them never to become complacent. 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. "It save me from the 400 pounds of debris that was falling on me," she said. Raposa emphasized that those who died that fateful day are gone but never, ever forgotten., The developmental process of the monument represented both a commemoration of the Flight 401 victims and decades of collaboration among 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. She heard the cries of people and shouted, 'Follow my voice, I am a flight attendant' so that any surviving passengers could find her. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. 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. No, they dont, Raposa, now 75, recalls telling Stanich. I think about her every day.. Washington, DC 20006, Online Donations can be made at www.PlaneSafe.org. Less pool space. The Memorial is located just South and West of the new Miami Springs sign that was erected on the Curtiss Parkway median. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. This week, there will be a special commemoration of the new monument on Curtiss Parkway in memory of the 101 souls lost fifty years ago on Eastern Airlines Flight 401. "The NTSB, when they studied it, they said this crash was unsurvivable, yet 75 miracles came out of there.". The next, he was covered in water up to his chin. Then came the final and fatal mistake. The Memorial is along the Curtiss Parkway median directly across from the driving range. And he is delighted he will get to dine more often at one of his favorite restaurants, Kamiko Sushi Bar in Doral. Updated on: December 29, 2022 / 6:57 PM Eventually, all of the salvaged parts were removed from aircraft, and neither Bob nor Don were ever seen again. "Same thing in our lives. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. For Ruiz, the memorial will be a light in the darkness, a place to pray, reflect and remember the souls lost in the tragedy. READ MORE: An Eastern plane crashed into the Everglades in 1972. Looking back, Ruiz, now 78, who worked at Eastern until the company stopped flying in 1991, sees signs in the events of Dec. 29, 1972. In the hospital he learned just how bad off he was. He wanted to look further and reportedly found a problem that could have caused a serious accident. A well-known fatal accident recounted from surviving cabin crew. 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. Anyone wishing to donate can write a check payable to the National Air Disaster Foundation or donate online. 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. "On the wreath I put, 'To our fellow brothers and sisters, in loving memory.' "We did something to the altitude," the first officer remarked, and the captain's reply was "What? "What saved my life was chute on that dooractually on impact it inflated, she recalled. The crash spawned a number of books, films and other media, along with legends of ghost signtings involving crew members who were killed. Anyone interested in attending should email flt401memorial@gmail.com. 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. Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation Aviation consultant Bennie Benitez said there were many positive safety elements that came out of 401, like flash lights on all planes. Eastern Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, remains the worst aviation accident in Florida history. 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. Raposa was among 75 "miracle survivors." Another 101 died. - Flight Safety Foundation. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. "We're still at 2,000 feet, right?" On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes into the Florida Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities. Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 mph. Tomorrow is not a given, she said. The former flight attendants described one gathering in the Everglades where airboats from around Florida turned up to help commemorate crash victims. She downsized plans for the memorial so it could be completed while the remaining survivors are still alive. There were 67 survivors. 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 . I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. Dawn Quinn, 59, the granddaughter of flight 401 Captain Robert A. Loft, said she was 9 years old when she heard that her grandfathers plane had crashed. This commemorative event in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among survivors and supporters. Eastern Airlines eventually ceased operations early in 1991. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. 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. "My grandfather was a kind, humble, perfectionist. ", - Beverly, Flight attendant on Flight 401. If were a little late, its overtime.. Hjs wife was not with him. There were 10 flight attendants in the main cabin serving 163 passengers. Then there was silence. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. Passengers, cabin crew, Pilots, Flight Engineers, even top airline executives, all claimed to have seen 'something' while travelling on some Eastern Airlines aircraft. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Florida's deadliest airline disasters. I try to do that but I'm human so it doesn't always work out.". Please review this photograph closely. 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. The flight attendants' reports after the accident helped to change safety equipment onboard, including the use of shoulder harnesses on all jump seats, which was not the case at the time. In a June 1973 report NTSB investigators said it was possible that the altitude hold function on the autopilot was accidentally disengaged, causing the plane to gradually descend from the 2,000-foot altitude. A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. Flight attendants Mercedes Ruiz and Patricia McQuigg were working at the rear of the aircraft. While the plane was on final approach, the crew became distracted by an apparent problem. Southern Airboat and other organizations also plan to honor Bud and the victims and survivors of Eastern Flight 401 with a service and a barbecue in Miami. See the coverage as it happened. Please enter valid email address to continue. His arm was hanging by a thread; the cold swamp water may have saved his life by coagulating the blood. A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. /24-7PressRelease/ - MIAMI, FL, December 07, 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 . Flight 401, a new L-1011 TriStar, took off from Kennedy International Airport in New York at 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 29, 1972. . The crash was a result of the flight crew's failure to recognize a deactivation of the autopilot during their attempt . The ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 1pm on Curtiss Parkway, near the Miami Springs Golf Course. A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International Airport. At one point he noticed that his right arm didn't seem right. All rights reserved, WATCH LIVE: Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Roadway in Western Broward. Unfortunately, 101 passengers and crew perished in the accident. The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. Here today, we hope that everyone, myself included, will find peace with this memorial monument.. Its an invasive species, Surfside candidate who lost election bid is now in jail on murder charges in Broward, Have you seen Maura Lockhart? The wreckage of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 lies in the Florida Everglades after the crash. Amid the confusion, the distracted crew didnt notice the auto pilot button was switched off. His right arm was nearly severed, his left knee broken, his chest crushed. "The autopsy was drowning. Raposa brought the baby to Ruiz, who cradled him to keep warm. 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. "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. Hardly anyone has stopped by in 35 years to discuss the crash. What happened with ValuJet. "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. "I asked, 'Where's my wife?' 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. . On duty that day was also Stephanie Stanich, Trudy Smith, Sharon Transue, Beverly Rapoza and Dorothy Warnock. The group will also try to raise funds for a memorial to honor those who died. 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 captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. 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. The captain recognized him as being none other than Bob. He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. In loving memory so they will never, ever be forgotten," she said unveiling the stone monument with the names of those who died engraved in the granite. The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, took a look at the eight most intriguing examples. He didn't know it, but it was Robert "Bud" Marquis, who was out frog-gigging with a friend. Its the holidays. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. 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. Sometimes, it doesnt seem like 50 years.. It is open to the public. Survivors will unveil a memorial marker on a grassy median of Curtiss Parkway in Miami Springs, across from the country club, on Dec. 29, the anniversary of the crash. Earlier this year, Simple Flying took a look at the eight most intriguing examples. The flight crew had taken pictures as a keepsake for what would have been their last trip of the year together. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. 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). Raposa added that Flight 401 has also been widely incorporated into safety training for pilots and flight attendants. Two days into recovery his dad came into his hospital room. I carry those folks in my heart every single day, Raposa said of those who died in the tragedy. Were gonna wake up.. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. "I love my profession so I overcame that part of my life. 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. 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. The crash of Eastern Flight 401. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. And she knows what I went through, so you have that same bonding with one another.". "I was leaning back, my eyes half closed, and all the sudden I hear the engines go to full power," he said. Marquis would work tirelessly throughout the night and the next day rescuing people. A flash fire also developed from sprayed fuel. While in the cockpit one day, preparing for the flight, another pilot heard loud knocks from under the floor beneath him. Definition: Here is something interesting that we discovered during our research. On another flight, a flight attendant is said to have seen Don's face on the oven door. Infantino, around the time of his wedding, had completed an aptitude test, sent in his rsum and applied for a job as a pilot at Eastern Airlines. Flight Capt. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. The swamp water that may have saved him also caused him to get gangrene, causing it to swell to three times its normal size and smell "like rotten eggs." The disaster that killed 100 people became the foundations of the safety procedures on airlines. (Photo by Steve Starr/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images), Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. Local 10: Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story; Flamingo Magazine: Flight 401 Down in the Glades; Read the Story! . Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. 401 JFK-MIA Dec. 29, 1972. He was flying from New York that night with his bride of 20 days, Lilly. In other words, more building space. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. The event, which will begin at 1 p.m., is open to the public. 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. The idea for a memorial for Eastern Flight 401 first popped up at the 35th anniversary gathering in the Everglades. Bob Loft decided to try to troubleshoot and fix the light before landing and put the plane on autopilot. READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. Her face was burnt, but the coolness of the swamp seemed a relief. "The crew was so preoccupied with a 50-cent life bulb, they missed the whole picture," he said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. He says he thinks about the crash every day and it has defined the way he looks at life. 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. The former Flight attendants in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among and! Was, in loving memory. flt401memorial @ gmail.com whole picture, '' said. 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