Raposa, who now lives in Broward County, studied to become a flight attendant just steps away from the memorial site. The flight started in New York. 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. What happened with ValuJet. Eastern Airlines Flight 401. At the start of 2022, Raposa remembered her promise to honor those who lost their lives on the flight. He couldn't move. The left wing tip hit first. 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. Infantino and other survivors have for years tried to create one but have been unable to raise the money needed to build it. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes into the Florida Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities. But what was inside was the real prize: a Kodak Instamatic camera and rolls of film. The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. DALLAS December 29, 2022, will mark a half-century since the fatal crash of Eastern Air Lines (EA) Flight 401. There were 67 survivors. 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. "We did something to the altitude," he said. 2022 Miami Herald. At 7:45 p.m. on December 29 that year, an Eastern Air Lines jet out of Tampa, Fla. arrived at Kennedy Airport, one of the airline's hubs, for routine maintenance. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. ", - Beverly, Flight attendant on Flight 401. He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. 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. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. 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. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades on a moonless night on December 29, 1972. The official cause of the crash was pilot error, the crew being distracted by a faulty nose gear indicator . Throughout the course of aviation history, there have been several other ghost stories. He was flying from New York that night with his bride of 20 days, Lilly. An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. On duty that day was also Stephanie Stanich, Trudy Smith, Sharon Transue, Beverly Rapoza and Dorothy Warnock. 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. 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. The captain, along with one of two flight crew members, two of 10 flight attendants, and 97 of 163 passengers, died; 75 . Anyone interested in attending should email [email protected]. Infantino heard that, but nobody could hear him. MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. The incident occurred on September 11, 1974, killing 72 of the 82 people on board. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. 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. 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 group will also try to raise funds for a memorial to honor those who died. Off-topic, inappropriate or anonymous posts may be removed. The crash changed the course of the aviation industry through new safety measures that require pilots to maintain communication with the cabin crew and require flight attendants to carry larger flashlights. "Same thing in our lives. 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. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. 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 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. The Memorial is located just South and West of the new Miami Springs sign that was erected on the Curtiss Parkway median. I'm just blessed. With Ernest Borgnine, Gary Lockwood, Tina Chen, Kim Basinger. 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 plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. It helps me put life in perspective, you see.". Former flight attendant Beverly Raposa, one of 75 people who survived after the plane crashed with 176 people on board, said that she has never forgotten the passengers and crew members who died. 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. 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. Those still in a sufficiently usable state were used again on the Eastern Air Lines fleet. Donations are still being accepted no matter what amount. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. Then came the final and fatal mistake. Survivors. "The crew was so preoccupied with a 50-cent life bulb, they missed the whole picture," he said. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. 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. 255153N 803543W. The answer was fine, but unfortunately the controller didn't specifically mention the altitude so no one was the wiser. The flight path of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in its final moments. Tell people you love them. The pilot Bob Loft and the flight engineer Don Repo were two of the 101 people who perished in the air crash. . How could this have happened? READ MORE: Eastern Flight 401 introduced new safety measures and books, movies and ghost stories. One hundred and one lives were lost that late December evening, with 75 passengers and crew . Those were the last words recovered from the flight voice recorder. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 1pm on Curtiss Parkway, near the Miami Springs Golf Course. [email protected]. Why? 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. Mysteriously, the log books started to go missing from the aircraft. "They're home," Beverly said. However, 75 people did survive the crash. All the survivors were injured; 60 received serious injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries that did not require . 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. Infantino and three of the flight attendants who survived the crash spoke to NBC Miami as the 39th anniversary of the flight approached. Ruiz continued her career as a flight attendant, flying for both EA and United (UA) in the years following 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 Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. It was like a tornado. The investigation into the crash took months. Photo: Jon Proctor Collection. Three days after the crash, Lilly Infantinos body was found. Oh, Mercy, stop complaining, Ghyssels responded. "I asked why he wanted to know that and I said Catholic. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. "These poor people were still my responsibility. "They put me in a helicopter and I'll never forget they gave me a warm blanket," he said. The lights of Miami vanished behind them. The aircraft was delivered to Eastern Air Lines on 30 January 1969. But that turned out to be Infantinos uncle, who wasnt on the plane. Featured Image: Eastern Airlines Lockheed L1011 N310EA, the airframe involved in flight 401. I put the sweater around me under the water. Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. It happened 40 years ago today on a cold dark night in the Everglades, a brand new "Whisperliner" jumbo jet . In November 2022,Airwaysinterviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. Ruiz was 28 years old and had been working as a flight attendant for less than three years when the plane went down. Flight engineer Don Repo is also said to have appeared onboard flights in a strange, supernatural manner. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. 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. He didn't know it, but it was Robert "Bud" Marquis, who was out frog-gigging with a friend. On another day, a crew was in the cockpit of an aircraft when they were said to have seen Don sitting with them. This commemorative event in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among survivors and supporters. The crash, another seminal moment in South Florida aviation history, killed all 110 people on board. She said it was ironic that he died in one of his favorite places in the world the Everglades. A well-known fatal accident recounted from surviving cabin crew. The former flight attendants described one gathering in the Everglades where airboats from around Florida turned up to help commemorate crash victims. 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. He spends most of his vacations in Miami. Advertise: Call 305.775.4094 or email: The event, which will begin at 1 p.m., is open to the public. "I just remember their heavy breathing. Expand the text below to read more about this . Shortly after, the plane crashed into the swamp. Robert Marquis, an airboat captain out hunting frogs that night, witnessed the crash and rushed to the rescue, suffering burns to his face, arms, and legs as he ferried survivors to safety. His knee was badly dislocated, his shin able to swivel in any direction. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. 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. He did not survive, but his memory lives on. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401: 28 May 2008 () On 29 December 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 is on a flight to Miami International Airport. 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. Survivors now have a message, Venezuelan Josef Martinez opens up on move to Inter Miami, love of Doral and arepas, DeSantis wants to permanently ban COVID vaccine, mask requirements for Florida workers, Odd armored fish seen hanging from mouth of Florida heron. 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. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. Then he gave me last rites. No, they dont, Raposa, now 75, recalls telling Stanich. . First published on December 29, 2022 / 4:03 PM. He was very dedicated," she said. He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. This story was originally published December 29, 2022 7:10 PM. "My god, you're here, please don't leave me," he remembers telling them. 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. The captain recognized him as being none other than Bob. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Copies of that photo are now bound in a leather album that Eastern gave all the flight attendants of Flight 401 after the tragedy. 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). 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 . Later, he recognized that the pilot he'd been speaking to was, in fact, Bob. One of them was Ron Infantino, an Air Force veteran in Vietnam and aviation aficianado. The crash of Eastern Flight 401. Just before the plane hit, First Officer Albert Stockstill noticed the low altitude and told Loft about it. We just hit,' she said. Flight attendants Patricia and Stephanie tragically died in the crash, along with the flight crew. The scene was apocalyptic. My arm was hanging there. Updated on: December 29, 2022 / 6:57 PM The 76-year-old said his wife of 20 days, Lilly Infantino, died in the crash. Raposa, 25, had noticed something strange. "The tail turned over, the floor opened under me and I went down with 400 pounds of debris on me," she said. Infantino served in Vietnam, but it was this flight, not war that brought him closest to death. The death toll was, in 1972, the highest of any one-plane accident. "I number things one to ten in my life, ten's the plane crash," he says. A ball of fire erupted in the cabin and the aircraft cartwheeled and broke into pieces. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. Hjs wife was not with him. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. Promote your organization with Miami's #1 hyperlocal community website. Please review this photograph closely. . Remembering EAL Flt. 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." At one point he noticed that his right arm didn't seem right. Then, luggage shot out of the overhead bins. According to George Rodez who will be hosting a special event at the History Miami Museum, . 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.. Nichole Shackleford, 53, was just 3 years old when she lost her mother, passenger Patricia Renee Shackleford, 20, in the crash. Truth or scare? "And it was just hanging off. Sharon Shackleford said it has been painful to go on without her sister but that the memorial brings her peace. 50 years later, memorial dedicated to survivors, families of Eastern Flight 401 crash. 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. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Florida's deadliest airline disasters. After donating, please email the NADF Executive Director, Gail Dunhan so that she can send you an acknowledgement of your tax deductible donation. The wreckage of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 lies in the Florida Everglades after the crash. 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