Raposa brought the baby to Ruiz, who cradled him to keep warm. Visit miamiherald.com. It was like a tornado. We reach over 20,000 people each month. Four hours after the accident, the coastguard and rescuers arrived, their efforts hampered by the difficult location and conditions. He warned them of a faulty electrical circuit, which was then found and replaced. 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. She recalls the terrifying moments afterward. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. Afterward, folks hope to take the old man into the . He was offered the job. After donating, please email the NADF Executive Director, Gail Dunhan so that she can send you an acknowledgement of your tax deductible donation. The plane actually spun in a circle, the floor dropped and I woke up in the water," he recalled. Please enter valid email address to continue. But before we begin this spooky tale, we must first go back to December 29, 1972 on board Eastern . Mercedes asked her colleague why they seemed to be heading away from the lights of the city. Raposa said a turning point came when supporter Shannon DeWitt offered to help coordinate fundraising and construction efforts for a monument, a pivot from the original idea of a tribute. Survivors now have a message, It gives me and my fellow surviving passengers, crew members and family members of loved ones who perished a time to all come together and remember them since we never had a chance to say goodbye, Raposa said. In November 2022,Airwaysinterviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. Eastern Air Lines flight 401 encountered no problems while cruising between the two cities. 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. 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. Its closure; its been a long time coming, she said. 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. Beverly Raposa switched seats from her regular position in the galley for a flight from New York to Miami. Remembering EAL Flt. It happened just west of Miami International Airport. Then, luggage shot out of the overhead bins. I think about her every day.. And the aircraft gradually descended into the mushy swamp from 20,000 feet. 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. Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. Shelley and Steve Rubin and their unborn baby boy - Sandy Shapiro December 30, 2020 . 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Florida's deadliest airline disasters. Throughout the course of aviation history, there have been several other ghost stories. "My god, you're here, please don't leave me," he remembers telling them. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. There has not been one day in the last 50 years that they havent been in my heart and that I havent wanted to make sure that I kept my promise to them. The plane, a new "Whisperliner," could transport 229 passengers. She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. Infantino heard that, but nobody could hear him. He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 1pm on Curtiss Parkway, near the Miami Springs Golf Course. Aboard were 13 crew members and 163 holiday travelers. 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. "We did something to the altitude," the first officer remarked, and the captain's reply was "What? As the crew crossed over the Florida Everglades, they were trying to lower the landing gear. The investigation into the crash took months. She went on to praise the efforts of Raposa, who sang Christmas carols to maintain morale among survivors as they waited for rescue. At the front of the aircraft, Sue Tebbs and Adrienne Hamilton were seated for landing. He had bad sawgrass cuts all over his face. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. 75. the first officer asked, and the captain immediately exclaimed "Hey, what's happening here?". Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. Eastern Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, remains the worst aviation accident in Florida history. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. "I asked, 'Where's my wife?' All are South Florida survivors of the crash of Eastern Flight #401 now trying . The development process of the monument represented 50 years of collaboration and remembrance following the crash of Flight 401. . Sharon and Adrienne were injured and trapped in their jump seats. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. All of the bodies were recovered, 99 perished that night, two more would die from their injuries. After the impact the aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area approximately 1,600 feet long and 300 feet wide. An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. Click on contribute in the blue box in the right column of the home page. But doctors were able to reattach his arm. Journalist - A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for aviation history, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft even if doing so demands an unorthodox itinerary. "It was so cold I can't describe it.". He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. Soon passengers and crew on those aircraft report seeing what they believe to be the ghost of the . During the five hours, a female passenger came up to him and began to walk away. The cockpit crew, scrambling to identify the problem, got permission from air traffic control to circle the Everglades. "We're still at 2,000 feet, right?" You are here with us," said flight attendant Beverly Raposa, who survived the crash. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. At the start of 2022, Raposa remembered her promise to honor those who lost their lives on the flight. 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. Amid the planes wreckage, her cream-colored, company-issued suitcase was the only one that remained intact. The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. https://new.miamisprings.com/images/news/pool-capture.jpg. Why? 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. Chapter 4 - Flight 401 Passenger List. "You couldn't even say goodbye to each other, that's how fast it happened, said crash survivor Ron Infantino, whose wife Lily died in the crash. Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 mph. A lack of flashlights amid the poor nighttime visibility in the Everglades impeded the ability of survivors to assist each other. The flooring of the plane crumbled. A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. It was a huge fireball. "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. All Rights Reserved , Southwest Pilots Association President Calls for Strike Vote, Iberia, TAG Airlines to Start Codeshare Agreement, Delta Air Lines Firms Order for 12 Additional A220s, Lufthansa Submits Offer to Acquire a Stake in ITA Airways, Airways Top 10 Never-built Commercial Aircraft, 12/11/1996: Oasis International Airlines Ceases Operations, Air Baltic Becomes First European Airline to Offer, Emirates Returns First Refurbished A380 to Service, FAA Issues National Ground Stop for Florida Airports. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. . Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. 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. While the crash has inspired two feature-length movies and numerous documentaries and training films, there is no permanent memorial for Eastern Flight 401. The next, he was covered in water up to his chin. Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. All the survivors were injured; 60 received serious injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries that did not require . "Where's my right arm, why's my right arm so far away from my body? The couple dated for a few years before getting married in December 1972. From there a series of seemingly small mistakes and oversights led to the epic crash. 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. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1 jet that crashed into the Florida Everglades on the night of December 29, 1972, causing 101 fatalities (77 initial crash survivors, two died shortly afterward). Contact us: info@MiamiSprings.com 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. If you have a story you'd like to share with the Miami Springs audience or would like to advertise on MiamiSprings.com, please contact Mr. Suarez at: You have entered an incorrect email address! 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 couple had two sons. Passengers, cabin crew, Pilots, Flight Engineers, even top airline executives, all claimed to have seen 'something' while travelling on some Eastern Airlines aircraft. I'm just blessed. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. Anyone wishing to donate can write a check payable to the National Air Disaster Foundation or donate online. 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. Local 10: Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story; Flamingo Magazine: Flight 401 Down in the Glades; Read the Story! He spends most of his vacations in Miami. Its the holidays. His right arm was nearly severed, his left knee broken, his chest crushed. I reach over and all the sudden my fingers go inside of my bicep," he said. It's certainly not a ten. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. There were 67 survivors. She, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone. "Hey, what's happening here?" Raposa, 25, had noticed something strange. Mercy Ruiz, 29, also noticed something strange that night. Had we had flashlights that night, Ruiz continued, every person that was ambulatory could have helped. Flashlights eventually came to flight attendant crew stations ten years after the crash. Then came the final and fatal mistake. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. 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. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. Flight Capt. She noticed that the engines sounded different, and the aircraft jolted. 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. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. Josef El Rey Martinez was officially introduced as the newest member of Inter Miami on Wednesday morning, but the Venezuelan forward and former MLS MVP is hardly a newcomer to South Florida. We're trying to build a memorial out there to try to honor that not only the survivals but the ones who died, ron That also gave me an impression like the two girls were marked, Ruiz said. And he is delighted he will get to dine more often at one of his favorite restaurants, Kamiko Sushi Bar in Doral. And he said the disaster taught him something about life. Patricia commented on the fact that it was the holiday season and maybe they'd earn some overtime. Shortly after, the plane crashed into the swamp. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history at the time, although, today, it now ranks in 16th place. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 departed New York for Miami on December 29, 1972. Now the names are there and they will never be forgotten, Ruiz said. What none of the passengers in the plane knew was that the light for the nose gear wasn't working. The other 101 people on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 died quite horribly 98 in the Everglades where the airplane crashed, three later in hospitals. Days later, the wreckage of the aircraft was retrieved from the swamp, and some of its parts were able to be salvaged, including a galley. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. I just regret not getting a chance to say goodbye. Then he noticed that the pilot did a fly-by the airport. So when Im stuck in traffic, I say, Ron, What number is this? I don't think so we have no control over our destiny.". They were exhausted. Its like the light they needed in the Everglades on that December night 50 years ago. With Ernest Borgnine, Gary Lockwood, Tina Chen, Kim Basinger. The airline still wanted to interview him for an opening that he could start after his health improved. In 2021, a memorial marker was installed in the Everglades to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the May 11, 1996, ValuJet crash. 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. 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. 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. The pair also described takeaways for the public around aviation safety to go along with memorial efforts for Flight 401. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, 50 Years On, Aviation journalist and Daily Caller contributor who counts playing and teaching golf among his many hobbies, follow him on Twitter @realBrentFoster. . The flight crew had taken pictures as a keepsake for what would have been their last trip of the year together. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. . He held out hope that his wife had survived another patient with their last name was admitted to a hospital in Florida. "The priest came over and asked me what my religion was," he remembers. The disaster that killed 100 people became the foundations of the safety procedures on airlines. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. With William Shatner, Adrienne Barbeau, Brooke Bundy, Christopher Connelly. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . He turned it down. They had not realized that the autopilot was disconnected, which ultimately caused the plane to lose altitude and crash. One hundred and one lives were lost that late December evening, with 75 passengers and crew . Beverly attended to the injured and calmed any survivors she found. Those were the last words recovered from the flight voice recorder. Then I knew how bad I was.". 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