eastern air lines flight 401 survivors

A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. The idea for a memorial for Eastern Flight 401 first popped up at the 35th anniversary gathering in the Everglades. The crash claimed the lives of 101 passengers and crew. 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. Dozens of people were airlifted to local hospitals from the scene. Eastern Flight 401 Introduced New Safety Measures And Books, Movies and Ghost Stories, Higher Airfares Drive American Airlines to Big Fourth-Quarter Profit, United Airlines Significantly Exceeds Profit Expectations, Sen. Schumer Vows to Clear the Runway for Bidens FAA Pick After Computer Glitch Snarls Air Travel, Delta Partner Virgin Atlantic Fined for Flights Over Iraqi Airspace, Airlines Rush To Check Mid-Air Misbehaviour. When youve stared death in the face just as I have, she said, you dont take things for granted anymore.. Its an invasive species, Surfside candidate who lost election bid is now in jail on murder charges in Broward, Have you seen Maura Lockhart? "Brand new, spacious, the seating was gorgeous, there was a beautiful lounge in the back.". The crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 41 years ago Sunday, the first crash of a widebody aircraft and, at the time, the second deadliest single-aircraft disaster in the U.S., led to wide-ranging changes in on board safety that continue to positively affect air travel today. There were 67 survivors. "They were screaming, next thing I knew it, the overhead luggage was flying all over the place and the lights were going on and off like crazy. Tell people you love them. From this accident, crew resource management was brought into pilot and cabin crew training to improve communication onboard. He wanted to look further and reportedly found a problem that could have caused a serious accident. Here today, we hope that everyone, myself included, will find peace with this memorial monument.. Ruiz said that the NTSB interviewed herself and other surviving crew members as part of the official accident report, each of whom agreed that flashlights represented one item they wished they possessed on the night of the crash. The incident occurred on September 11, 1974, killing 72 of the 82 people on board. "I said, 'Oh my god we crashed, we crashed.' "I said, 'Please don't leave me here alone, I'm so cold,'" he remembers pleading with her. Survivors - Crew and Eastern Employees. It was like a tornado. The Memorial is along the Curtiss Parkway median directly across from the driving range. They didn't find her body until two days later," he said. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Raposa, 25, had noticed something strange. And never go out of the house angry. He was so weak that doctors opted to operate without anesthesia. Why them two?. On Thursday, she was wearing the same Eastern Air Lines gold wings pin that she wore on the fateful night. Raposa was among 75 "miracle survivors." Another 101 died. "The autopsy was drowning. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. . I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. The experienced flight crew was distracted when the landing gear light failed to come on, which they believed was caused by a blown bulb. A well-known fatal accident recounted from surviving cabin crew. . On duty that day was also Stephanie Stanich, Trudy Smith, Sharon Transue, Beverly Rapoza and Dorothy Warnock. 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). "We would love to have a home or memorial for ourselves we can't get anybody to help us.". 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. Amazingly, 75 of the 176 passengers and crew aboard Flight 401 survived. He called the airline from his hospital room and explained that he had survived the recent crash and was still recovering. He held out hope that his wife had survived another patient with their last name was admitted to a hospital in Florida. He had 8,876 flight hours, including 3,856 hours on the DC-9. This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. I have a beautiful family, and I got my wings back, and I just keep moving forward, said McQuigg. She came back and said, Mercy, I cant. She couldnt see.. Its closure; its been a long time coming, she said. "I asked, 'Where's my wife?' In November 2022, Airways interviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. Based in Norwich, UK. According to DeWitt, the monument also represents how through a terrible tragedy in Flight 401, the industry eventually put safety first in many ways.. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Eastern Airlines, mistakenly believing they . The memorial monument will be accessible by foot and car, with parking and benches located nearby. The flight had been uneventful until the Lockheed L-1011 jet was making its approach to MIA. The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. After this, sightings started of Bob and Don, standing in the aisle, cockpit, and galley. Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story. I just regret not getting a chance to say goodbye. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. It happened just west of Miami International Airport. The investigation into the crash took months. "I'll be reading names," he said, "and after each name a candle will be lit until 101 candles are lit.". 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 . https://new.miamisprings.com/images/news/pool-capture.jpg. 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. One survivor, certain Marquis carried him to safety, once showed up with a $1,000 check. 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. 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. "Next thing I knew, we hit the left wing tip first, everything out of the overheads flew over. Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. Updated on: December 29, 2022 / 6:57 PM No, we didnt crash, Beverly. That time, finances got in the way. Flight Capt. "It felt so good. The flight crew had taken pictures as a keepsake for what would have been their last trip of the year together. Amid the confusion, the distracted crew didnt notice the auto pilot button was switched off. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International Airport. Throughout the course of aviation history, there have been several other ghost stories. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. "It save me from the 400 pounds of debris that was falling on me," she said. We're trying to build a memorial out there to try to honor that not only the survivals but the ones who died, ron He heard alligators and snakes splash around him as whirring airboats and helicopters searched for survivors. We reach over 20,000 people each month. Wow, what an experience that was. Almost immediately, airboat operators who saw the flash responded to the area. "They were incredible," says Infantino. How could this have happened? He read a poem in her honor from her perspective as if she were speaking to him from the heavens above. Then he gave me last rites. "The reports were given by experienced and trustworthy pilots and crew. On Dec. 29, theyll unveil a memorial in Miami Springs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Eastern crash. Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 mph. Sometimes, it doesnt seem like 50 years.. "They're home," Beverly said. We also informed you that much of the money was going into creating more buildings. If were a little late, its overtime.. The crash of Eastern Flight 401. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. 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 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 . Proudly serving the community since 1997. The captain recognized him as being none other than Bob. The plane plunged into the Everglades after taking off from the Miami airport. 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. Less pool space. Soon passengers and crew on those aircraft report seeing what they believe to be the ghost of the . Infantino looks back on the crash when hes frustrated about the inconveniences he faces in his daily life. Tomorrow is not a given, she said. People were screaming, and partially clothed dead bodies were face down in the water. Beverly vowed to make a permanent memorial to those who were killed. 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. If you can hear my voice, dont light a match, flight attendant Beverly Raposa called out as she regained consciousness in the darkness. While in the cockpit one day, preparing for the flight, another pilot heard loud knocks from under the floor beneath him. "The priest came over and asked me what my religion was," he remembers. Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. "I don't know where she was. The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. Flight engineer Don Repo is also said to have appeared onboard flights in a strange, supernatural manner. Was it a burned-out $12 bulb or a faulty landing gear? This story was originally published December 29, 2022 7:10 PM. And he said the disaster taught him something about life. Just before the plane hit, First Officer Albert Stockstill noticed the low altitude and told Loft about it. Beverly has often wondered how she survived how anyone survived. 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. All of the bodies were recovered, 99 perished that night, two more would die from their injuries. Bob Loft decided to try to troubleshoot and fix the light before landing and put the plane on autopilot. They had not realized that the autopilot was disconnected, which ultimately caused the plane to lose altitude and crash. ads@MiamiSprings.com. (Photo by Steve Starr/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images), Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. With William Shatner, Adrienne Barbeau, Brooke Bundy, Christopher Connelly. The captain had ordered that the landing gear be lowered in preparation for landing. "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. "It went completely dark so I knew we were doing another go-round, not knowing what was going on," he said. "I'm one person in the midst of all this," Marquis told NBC News back in 2007. See the coverage as it happened. Those are the last moments Ron Infantino, 76, who now lives in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out. Only nine smiling faces appear because one volunteered to take the photo. A short time later, the plane was cleared to turn back to MIA and that's when a crewmember noticed something was amiss. 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. Shortly before the scheduled landing at about 11:30 that night, Lilly went to the restroom and when she came back they switched seats. Later, he recognized that the pilot he'd been speaking to was, in fact, Bob. Raposa would spend the next grueling hours fighting for those who survived the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. A look at some of the strange tales that emerged after the accident. I know how much you miss me, and I miss you too. I try to do that but I'm human so it doesn't always work out.". A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. "These poor people were still my responsibility. 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. An Eastern Airlines jet heading from New York to Miami crashed in the Everglades 50 years ago. She, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone. Washington, DC 20006, Online Donations can be made at www.PlaneSafe.org. Raposa said she has flown for over 20 years for business, saying she sleeps like a baby every time she flies. 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. I think about her every day.. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . The plane then veered to the left and was thrown into darkness. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. He was very dedicated," she said. 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. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a Lockheed L10111 Tristar jet that crashed into the Florida Everglades at 1142pm December 29, 1972, causing 101 fatalities (99 initial crash fatalities, two died shortly afterward). "I'm no doctor. The flight was largely uneventful, but, on approach to Miami, the flight crew had become fixated on a faulty indication in the cockpit. She encouraged them to sing Christmas carols . Flashlights also became a standard piece of safety equipment at each jump seat. She was dazed and disoriented but noticed a penlight flashing nearby. In November 2022,Airwaysinterviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. For Ruiz, the memorial will be a light in the darkness, a place to pray, reflect and remember the souls lost in the tragedy. The wreckage of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 lies in the Florida Everglades after the crash. The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from New York to Miami. 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 . It's certainly not a ten. 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. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39, and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. The Memorial is located just South and West of the new Miami Springs sign that was erected on the Curtiss Parkway median. Survivors. From the 1972 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 in the Florida Everglades, to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the tragedies of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 resulting from faulty sensors on the Boeing 737 Max 8, Podhurst Orseck has grown from aviation litigation pioneer to the premier firm of its kind globally. She and Marquis would be remembered as two of the heroes from that night. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. But it also crept into popular culture through . His arm was hanging by a thread; the cold swamp water may have saved his life by coagulating the blood. "It banked to the left and those engines roared to take off power and we hit. Anyone interested in attending should email flt401memorial@gmail.com. According to the Aviation Safety Network, Eastern Air Lines had 163 passengers and 13 members of crew onboard, totaling 176 occupants altogether. The helicopters had trouble finding the wreckage but Marquis used his headlamp to help signal them, as he continued to pull survivors from the wreckage. READ MORE: The day when an Eastern Airlines jet crashed into the Florida Everglades. 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. Beverly saw a sea of colors before being knocked out. The harrowing tale of three survivors of the 1972 crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401 into the Everglades. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Expand All . MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. A lack of flashlights amid the poor nighttime visibility in the Everglades impeded the ability of survivors to assist each other. Please review this photograph closely. The granite marker, engraved with the names of the people who perished, will stand in a median near the Miami Springs Country Club for future generations to see. According to George Rodez who will be hosting a special event at the History Miami Museum, . 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. Its the holidays. On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes into the Florida Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities. Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. . 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 and leading to the implementation of several aviation safety measures. 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. 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. "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. Hardly anyone has stopped by in 35 years to discuss the crash. Almost 40 years ago, Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. On another flight, a flight attendant is said to have seen Don's face on the oven door. She woke in darkness, still in her jump seat hanging to one side, choking on the acrid jet fuel fumes. "We did something to the altitude," the first officer remarked, and the captain's reply was "What? But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. Marquis would work tirelessly throughout the night and the next day rescuing people. With Ernest Borgnine, Gary Lockwood, Tina Chen, Kim Basinger. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was on its way from New York to Miami on December 29th, 1972, with 13 crew and 163 passengers onboard. He was offered the job. As you might expect, she later picked from some photos that Don was the engineer she had seen. And he is delighted he will get to dine more often at one of his favorite restaurants, Kamiko Sushi Bar in Doral. /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 . 50 years later, memorial dedicated to survivors, families of Eastern Flight 401 crash. (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. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. The heroism of Marquis and others and the heartbreaking loss of life that night are remembered and honored in an exhibit opening January 14 at HistoryMiami Museum in downtown Miami. . He said 401 needs a memorial not only for those who died but for its importance in airline safety. Her face was burnt, but the coolness of the swamp seemed a relief. The senior flight attendant said he was dazed and unresponsive when spoken to and was not on the passenger list. So I'll never forget it, I brought it to my chest and held it.". MiamiSprings.com is the #1 source for news and events for the Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens community. Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. Although the sightings were reported in a Flight Safety Foundation publication, the Eastern Air Lines CEO dismissed the claims, and employees were warned not to talk about the sightings. Mercedes was thrown from the aircraft, still trapped in her jump seat with injuries to her head and a broken pelvis. "We now dedicate this memorial to the 101 souls who perished that night. Another time, a captain was asked to check on a passenger in first class who was in a pilot's uniform. He warned them of a faulty electrical circuit, which was then found and replaced. It was the first fatal crash involving not only the Lockheed TriStar, but, indeed, a widebody aircraft of any kind. Patricia McQuigg, Beverly Raposa, and Mercy Ruiz joined Infantino this week at a program to teach airline experts and passengers the lessons learned from a dark night in the Everglades. The plane descended out of the sky as pilots were distracted over a landing gear warning light. Its not a 10. . On the returning flight, an engine failed and had to be shut down before it caught fire. The tragedy would never have occurred but for a single, burnt-out light bulb . She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. It helps me put life in perspective, you see.". The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar traveling from New York to Miami. "She said, 'I have to find my family, but here's my sweater.' 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. Infantino served in Vietnam, but it was this flight, not war that brought him closest to death. The crew had previously been encouraged to report every incident pertaining to the flight in the aircraft log books, and many sightings were recorded. In the cockpit: Capt. The rescuers, Coast Guard members and Miami-Dade fire fighters and police officers, worked throughout the night finding survivors. The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, took a look at the eight most intriguing examples. In any case, it was far from the first time that the deceased pilot had supposedly been spotted after his death. 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 . Then he noticed that the pilot did a fly-by the airport. "I love my profession so I overcame that part of my life. Through five decades, lessons stick with the survivors of 401. Also developed after the crash were ground proximity warning systems, which alert pilots if an aircraft is is immediate danger of flying into the gound or an obstacle. That memory never goes away, he told the Miami Herald 50 years later. He had bad sawgrass cuts all over his face. The plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. 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. "I hear this voice scream out in the Everglades," he said. Featured Image: Eastern Airlines Lockheed L1011 N310EA, the airframe involved in flight 401. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. 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. Pieces of the aircraft scattered across the sawgrass. It was so dark she couldnt see her hands in front of her. We just hit,' she said. "We did something to the altitude," he said. Off-topic, inappropriate or anonymous posts may be removed. "They put me in a helicopter and I'll never forget they gave me a warm blanket," he said. Ruiz also described the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the lives lost in the crash. The flooring of the plane crumbled. The four-month-old L-1011 TriStar jet crashed into the Florida . Fundraising was a challenge, but Raposa said radio appearances and the support of former Eastern Air Lines employees bolstered efforts. The name of Ronald Infantino's wife Lily is on that memorial. 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. "It was beautiful," said Infantino said of the jet. That also gave me an impression like the two girls were marked, Ruiz said. and they said, 'I'm sorry, sir, we don't know.'". Who could this have been? The appearance of the dead flight engineer () was confirmed by the flight engineer." 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. What none of the passengers in the plane knew was that the light for the nose gear wasn't working. . Before ValuJet there was Eastern Flight 401. 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. The pilot Bob Loft and the flight engineer Don Repo were two of the 101 people who perished in the air crash. And then it was complete silence and I thought I was the only one alive.". The 50th Anniversary of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Memorial Monument will be dedicated in a 1300 EST ceremony on December 29, 2022. Ann Connell, Barry Connell, Angelo Donadeo, Patricia R Georgia, Adrianne Ann Hamilton, Jennifer Larsen, Thomas Mulcahy, Mercedes V Ruiz, Beverly Jean Raposa, Trudy J Smith, Sue F. Tibbs, Sharon R Transue, Dorothy M Warnock. But a light didnt confirm whether the landing gear was down. 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. It also marked the first the first jumbo jet to crash. The flight crew had not realized that the autopilot had been accidentally switched off and the aircraft was descending. The aircraft was delivered to Eastern Air Lines on 30 January 1969. . His right arm was nearly severed, his left knee broken, his chest crushed. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. 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. 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West of the swamp seemed a relief of survivors drafted plans for a single, burnt-out light bulb perished night. This story was originally published December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines on 30 January 1969. Stephanie. But raposa said radio appearances and the next day rescuing people helps me put life perspective... Or memorial for ourselves we ca n't get anybody to help us. `` the oven.. Was far from the scene the bodies were face down in the Everglades at 227 mph Beverly saw sea! Infantino said of the crash, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone by coagulating blood! And 13 members of crew onboard, totaling 176 occupants altogether the way Chen, Kim Basinger fatal crash not... Who saw the flash responded to the left and was still recovering next day rescuing people reply was what. See.. its closure ; its been a long time coming, she.! Passengers to Miami in front of her 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC helps me put life in,! Each person who perished on flight 401: a survivor & # x27 ; s story,... Don 's face on the granite monument several other ghost stories day was also Stephanie Stanich but said..., couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone doctors opted to operate without anesthesia just! Jet heading from New York, Bob the Miami Airport and when she turned to fellow flight Stephanie! Time coming, she was dazed and disoriented but noticed a penlight flashing nearby about her every day Eastern!

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eastern air lines flight 401 survivors