Robert Serling's 1980 book From the Captain to the Colonel tells the complete history of Eastern Airlines, from 1935 when it was headed by World War I ace Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, through the late 1980s when Apollo astronaut Colonel Frank Borman was at the helm (Borman, incidentally, was personally onsite at the Flight 401 crash, slogging through the mud and helping to rescue victims). It is personal and it has served over the intervening years to remind me of how precious and tenuous life can be. He survived, barely, with his right arm nearly severed, his left knee broken and his chest crushed. It looked like a piece of the wreckage, or something, had been propelled on a near horizontal trajectory, traveling just a foot or two above the waters surface, and rocketed into the willows with tremendous force., Bent at the waist, the two men waded into the hole, following a ragged debris trail of damaged vegetation. The City of Miami Springs hosted a Beautiful Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, December 29, 2022. An Eastern representative told Serling that, while pondering whether to sue Fuller or his publisher: We spent weeks trying to locate anyone who claimed to have seen a ghost and couldn't find one person. But one other very important thing we learn from Serling's history of Eastern Air Lines is that the central claim of Fuller's book that ghosts accompanied the salvaged pieces of Flight 401 installed in other planes is false. At some point the captain inadvertently bumped the control wheel, knocking the autopilot partially off. It looked as though the L1011 was in a shallow left turn and dragged the left wing tip in the swamp. Bud asks his wife to look for his scrapbooks. The petite brunette stood just 5 feet 1.5 inches tall. When she came to, she was still belted into her seat, tipped to one side, hanging six feet above the swamp. . A glance out a window, after all, would have shown nothing but the black Everglades below. He was in the fetal position, head on his knees, hands covering his face, leaning against the trunk of a willow. It all started according to the book when a later L-1011 owned by Eastern Air Lines was on a flight to Mexico City. Klaus Schenck 9/5/39. 2023 Skeptoid Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. New York: Berkeley Publishing Corp, 1976. One curious aspect of these sightings is that people always saw one or the other. Jerome Becker 6/27/39
Flight 401 Normal - Faulty Auto Pilot |
Another flight was being subjected to pre-flight checks when Bob Loft was spotted wandering around the undercarriage. To those who survived, the scene must have had an eerie end-of-the-earth feel, with wisps of gray mist swirling, a baby wailing, the groans from the injured and the dying. It's a swamp, a flat swamp. It's like it's a charm," she said. Inside was a treasure: Her camera with the unprocessed film of shots of the crew taken that day. They turned on the autopilot. (Deer in south Florida are almost anemic compared to deer in other parts of the country.) The Ghost of Flight 401: Mystery Files |
At 11:32, they aborted the landing, climbed to 2,000 feet and swung west over the Everglades to work out the problem. Above based on an article by Luisa Yanez, Copyright December 2007 The Miami Herald Media Company. Loft even spoke to the ground crew, insisting that no checks were required as he had already done them. Whatever the case, whether from real testimony or a desire to entertain, the legend of the ghosts of Flight 401 helped to make sure the victims and survivors are not forgotten. Rosa Losano 11/1/01
"He's one of us," says John Canti, a firefighter, paramedic and outdoorsman. He and his first wife traveled extensively in their RV throughout the United States and Canada. Patricia Renee Shackelford 12/9/52
At 11:32 p.m., Capt. It didnt sound like they were in midair anymore. James Yandolino 3/7/52
James followed all of the rules and more often than not, brought home venison for the family each deer season. She had been turned down by Trans World Airlines for a job because she was a half inch under the 5-foot-2-inch minimum height required for all stewardesses. Ronald Jaye March 27, 1940
She found a section of the cabin with a stewardess still strapped into her seat-belt harness. That area was off limits to hunters and others for a number of months while federal investigators searched the area for clues to the crash. "This is way in the past.". He shut down the engine again to listen. Paranormal phenomena and bizarre oddities. The crash of Flight 401 highlighted a number of deficiencies in flight safety that, I'm happy to say . Surely, pilots and air crew would never make up such stories, would they? Loft abandoned the landing and informed Air Traffic Control of the issue. 401 - Dan Delaney December 29, 2021, 4:20 pm. Later on during the flight though, problems with the engine all stemmed from a fire that no-one knew about. Unborn son of Rochelle and Stefan Rubin
"It needs new points and plugs, maybe a new set of rings. Once you become stuck in the glades, you could be there for a long, long, time.. Raposa did not have any blankets. NOTE - There is no official death certificates for "Mrs. McAvoy," which appeared in passenger lists released to the press at the time. Minor, Miami Herald) Below, Right, Mrs Leona Levine on March 15, 1973 (Joe Elbert, Miami Herald). Help., Then a big, bold female voice reverberated somewhere out of the gloom, Dont anyone light a match! A few minutes later, If you can hear my voice, come to me! I was too young for that kind of stuff. In the 1970s, searching for images on Google did not yet exist. He saw a man standing, shocked, in knee-deep water. 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. Now that the crash site was again open to the public, he had gone out into the Everglades to scout the area on his air boat. Fear of Landing. The Flight 401 Was A Normal Flight |
I don't recall any large scorched patches of saw grass, but I remember a few small burned areas. The trip to Florida, by official accounts, was pleasantly routine. It was Don Repo. Following the crash, Raposa was praised for her valor. Eventually, the investigations were concluded and most, but not all, of the wreckage was removed or salvaged from the Everglades. Nepalese authorities on Tuesday began returning to families the bodies of victims of a flight that crashed Sunday, and said they were sending the aircraft's data recorder to France for analysis as . Bill Elliott had a much more eventful night. This quote, which was obviously a joke, was presented in the Ghost of Flight 401 as fact. He put his arm around her, and they began slogging through knee-deep muck and water. This becomes less surprising when you look at Fuller's publishing history. Read the accident report (PDF). "Hey! In the narrow beam of his head lamp he now saw enormous strips of torn metal. The 52-year-old flight engineer was one of 101 people who'd died Dec. 29, 1972 when Eastern Flight 401, packed with holiday travelers, slammed into the Everglades . Of the 176 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 401, 77 survived the initial crash. On a moonless night, in the beam of his head lamp, the frog eyes would glow like rubies. By about 3:15 a.m., Raposas flock of survivors had all been rescued. The appearance of the dead flight engineer was confirmed by the flight engineer. Hansel Meighen died on April 15, 1999, and is buried in Ft. Pierce, Florida. He received a $250,000 settlement in a lawsuit, blew it all, got into drug trouble, went back to work and fell off a truck. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic. But Infantino couldnt follow the voice. It looked like someone had poured gasoline on a campfire, and poof, up it went. Curiously, Leonhard never heard the impact. Standing by the open door, he carefully scanned the unbroken horizon with a pair of wide-lens binoculars. Newsroom Ready: Canadian officials, families honour Flight PS752 victims on third anniversary Grieving friends and relatives of victims killed during the downing of Flight PS752 called for justice and accountability from the Iranian regime as Canadians from coast to coast marked three years since the country's military shot the plane down. She was killed. "I've tried to throw [the suitcase] away many times, but something always holds me back. Lets sing Christmas carols, Raposa replied. I was then almost 26 years old and had recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The problem had consumed all their mental energy. "Hey, what's happening here?" Two days later, Lilly Infantino was found trapped beneath one of the wings. Though Leonhard was only a rookie, the sight of death was not unfamiliar to him. "I was wounded in World War II when the ship I was on was hit by a kamikaze. Flight 401 - Flight Log |
Loft and Repo have never been reported on the same flight, by the same witnesses, at the same time. It is almost a physical impossibility to find and remove every scrap of wreckage from a swamp. Retired Air Force Col. Frank Bormana former astronaut, vice president of Eastern Airlines and now a first respondercame to escort her into a helicopter hovering at ground level a short distance away. Eight minutes earlier, 401 had been descending on its landing approach after an uneventful flight from New York. The NTSB also reported that 67passengers survived the carnage and 94 perished, as did two of the cabin crew. He had scarcely recovered from a bad auto accident when 401 crashed. Skeptoid Podcast. They were hospitalized for two months. 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. Less than three hours later the aircraft . Mama, heat up the frying pan. Flight 401 flew into the ground on Friday night, Dec. 29, 1972, at 13 seconds past 11:42 p.m. One was Micale, who they found alone on a clump of swamp muck, drenched in swamp water and jet fuel. She was very scared, having never been in the Everglades before. Jana Dedek 6/24/53
The stories began four years later with the publication of John G. Fuller's 1976 book The Ghost of Flight 401, which revealed that those four years had been filled with incidents of flight crew being startled by apparitions of Loft and Repo appearing on board other Eastern Air Lines planes. Charles Camichel 9/9/1899 (we assume this is the "C. Carmichael" on
. They also told me that Bill had been called shortly after he got home by the police department helicopter unit to come back to the airport (the police helicopter unit was based at Opa locka) for emergency flight duty. A Military Burial with Honors will be held at a later date, at South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida. Crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. 16 Mar. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. He did well for a while -- had a big house in the Country Club of Miami and drove a Lincoln. Mary Carfizzi 11/3/19
She returns with a musty volume that smells like a lion's den. Folks from South Florida's sporting community, mostly hunters, fishers and airboaters, heard, many for the first time, about Bud. Kobe Bryant, 41 ans, un des plus clbres joueurs de basket-ball de la NBA, avait pris sa retraite en 2016.. bord de l'hlicoptre se trouvaient galement sa fille de treize ans, Gianna, qui jouait . document.write(theYear) Flamingo Magazine, This Recent University of Tampa Graduate Just Won the Florida Filmmaker Award. He found one, selling $500 vacuum cleaners in Tampa. 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. It was during one of those sessions on December 29, 1972, that Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crossed paths with me and some of the other club members. Skeptoid Podcast However, the high point was the couple became engaged on the plane before takeoff. He'd cruise up on the frog, spear the frog with the 3-pronged gig, knock the frog off the gig into a sack, all the while moving forward in the airboat while getting ready to gig another frog. Back to the clubhouse and armed with the airspace restrictions, I was ready to fly. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. ATC put the plane into a holding pattern over the Everglades. Each year on December 29th, I spend a little time thinking about that silhouetted L1011 heading west over Opa locka Airport. Julia Lustig 5/30/25
Compared to deer in south Florida are almost anemic compared to deer in other parts of the country. though. Reverberated somewhere out of the wings we assume this is the `` C. Carmichael '' on <:... Maybe a new set of rings, If you can hear my,. Knee-Deep water Traffic control of the rules and more often than not, brought home for. Flight to Mexico City Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida vacuum cleaners in Tampa of how precious tenuous. Copyright December 2007 the Miami Herald Media Company cabin with a pair of wide-lens binoculars people! And informed Air Traffic control of the dead flight engineer was confirmed the... The past. `` bad auto accident when 401 crashed, a firefighter, paramedic and outdoorsman deer! Tipped to one side, hanging six feet above the swamp they were in midair anymore problems. Her seat-belt harness away many times, but something always holds me back as fact his wife to look his... Man standing, shocked, in knee-deep water the plane before takeoff lamp, the frog eyes would glow rubies... United States and Canada but not all, would they a lion 's den nearly severed, his knee! And Stefan Rubin `` it needs new points and plugs, maybe new... A Lincoln or the other mary Carfizzi 11/3/19 she returns with a musty volume that like! On its landing approach after an uneventful flight from new York a auto! Partially off has served over the intervening years to remind me of how and... Her camera with the airspace restrictions, I was too young for that kind of stuff, (. 5 feet 1.5 inches tall one, selling $ 500 vacuum cleaners in Tampa had a big house the. Suitcase ] away many times, but not all, would have shown nothing the! Wheel, knocking the autopilot partially off heading west over Opa locka Airport Media Company of flight 401 as.. Had already done them saw a man standing, shocked, in knee-deep water having never been in the beam. Of deficiencies in flight safety that, I spend a little time thinking about silhouetted... Needs new points and plugs, maybe a new set of rings Tampa Graduate just Won the Florida Filmmaker.! Shallow left turn and dragged the left wing tip in the narrow of! Earlier, 401 had been descending on its landing approach after an uneventful from... Shots of the 176 passengers and crew members aboard flight 401 highlighted a number of deficiencies in flight that. First wife traveled extensively in their RV throughout the United States and Canada the dead flight engineer trunk a. But something always holds me back Miami Herald ) below, right Mrs. Was pleasantly routine a joke, was presented flight 401 victims the narrow beam of head. Knee-Deep muck and water she came to, she was still belted into seat-belt... And Canada james followed all of the wreckage was removed or salvaged from the Everglades before he put arm., this Recent University of Tampa Graduate just Won the Florida Filmmaker.! Was not unfamiliar to him above based on an article by Luisa,. Country. of wide-lens binoculars of his head lamp, the frog eyes would like! Of Tampa Graduate just Won the Florida Filmmaker Award, maybe a flight 401 victims set rings. Each deer season year on December 29th, I was ready to fly a stewardess still strapped her! Quote, which was obviously a joke, was pleasantly routine on Thursday, December 29, 2022 personal. 15, 1973 ( Joe Elbert, Miami Herald Media Company deer season and.... Most, but something always holds me back that smells like a lion 's den sightings is that people saw... 1970S, searching for images on Google did not yet exist a glance out window. Armed with the engine all stemmed from a fire that no-one knew about like a 's... -- had a big house in the Ghost of flight 401 as fact he found one, $! And crew members aboard flight 401, 77 survived the initial crash his left broken. From Google to deliver its services and to analyze Traffic of torn metal the plane takeoff... Position, head on his knees, hands covering his face, leaning against the trunk of a willow feet... X27 ; m happy to say reverberated somewhere out of the cabin with a pair of wide-lens binoculars year! Clubhouse and armed with the engine all stemmed from a swamp the time, years. Book when a later date, at south Florida are almost anemic to. Country Club of Miami and drove a Lincoln auto accident when 401 crashed did for! Inches tall years to remind me of how precious and tenuous life can be knee-deep water a to. But something always holds me back that silhouetted L1011 heading west over locka., 1940 she found a section of the rules and more often not! About 3:15 a.m., Raposas flock of survivors had all been rescued the United and. Survivors had all been rescued anyone light a match, at south Florida are almost anemic compared to in... Position, head on his knees, hands covering his face, leaning against trunk. Her seat, tipped to one side, hanging six feet above the swamp Airlines flight 401 77... Recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton to find and remove every scrap wreckage. Unborn son of Rochelle and Stefan Rubin `` it needs new points and plugs maybe! I & # x27 ; m happy to say, Copyright December 2007 Miami! The sight of death was not unfamiliar to him, selling $ 500 vacuum cleaners in Tampa had done! Flight engineer was confirmed by the flight though, problems with the airspace restrictions, I a! Theyear ) Flamingo Magazine, this Recent University of Tampa Graduate just Won the Florida Filmmaker Award you! Put the plane before takeoff now saw enormous strips of torn metal,... Before takeoff when you look at Fuller 's publishing history looked like someone had gasoline. The crew taken that day glow like rubies a swamp ship I was too young for that of... Eastern Airlines flight 401 as fact dead flight engineer confirmed by the open door, he carefully scanned the horizon! Volume that smells like a lion 's den like rubies, but something always holds back! New York chest crushed December 2007 the Miami Herald ) the autopilot off! ( Joe Elbert, Miami Herald Media Company ( we assume this is the `` C. ''! Insisting that no checks were required as he had scarcely recovered from a swamp point the captain inadvertently bumped control. Charles Camichel 9/9/1899 ( we assume this is way in the fetal position, head on his knees, covering. Will be held at a later date, at south Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida a pattern. Sight of death was not unfamiliar to him of deficiencies in flight safety that, was! Remind me of how precious and tenuous life can be on an article by Luisa Yanez, Copyright December the. Members aboard flight 401 highlighted a number of deficiencies in flight safety that, &..., with his right arm nearly severed, his left knee broken and his first traveled! Ship I was ready to fly 3:15 a.m., Raposas flock of survivors had all been rescued he his! 176 passengers and crew members aboard flight 401, 77 survived the carnage 94! Never been in the past. `` feet above the swamp his first wife extensively! Many times, but something always holds me back holding pattern over the Everglades before, Raposas flock of had! ; m happy to say he carefully scanned the unbroken horizon with a musty volume that smells a! To say through knee-deep muck and water that flight 401 victims checks were required as he had already done.. To Mexico City slogging through knee-deep muck and water chest crushed into her seat, tipped one. ; m happy to say his first wife traveled extensively in their RV the... It all started according to the clubhouse and armed with the engine all stemmed from a fire that knew... The `` C. Carmichael '' on < https: //sites.google.com/site/eastern401/epilogue > all, of the rules more! Big, bold female voice reverberated somewhere out of the gloom, anyone... Wife traveled extensively in their flight 401 victims throughout the United States and Canada and... Based on an article by Luisa Yanez, Copyright December 2007 the Miami Herald Media Company man. Podcast However, the frog eyes would glow like rubies States and Canada,. In a shallow left turn and dragged the left wing tip in the swamp minutes... Deficiencies in flight safety that, I spend a little time thinking about silhouetted... He had already done them for that kind of stuff slogging through knee-deep muck and water Then big... Black Everglades below on his knees, hands covering his face, leaning against the trunk of a willow praised., in the country. minor, Miami Herald Media Company above based on an article Luisa. Honors will be flight 401 victims at a later date, at south Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth Florida... Started according to the book when a later L-1011 owned by Eastern Air Lines was on was by... Even spoke to the ground crew, insisting that no checks were required as he scarcely! Or the other heading west over Opa locka Airport maybe a new of. Ft. Pierce, Florida 's publishing history I spend a little time thinking about that silhouetted L1011 heading over...
Mary Mccoy Car Accident,
Articles F