A series of errors brought down the plane that December night, between Christmas and New Years. And then she started walking away, trying to help people. Flight attendants Mercedes Ruiz and Patricia McQuigg were working at the rear of the aircraft. 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 also informed you that much of the money was going into creating more buildings. The other flight crew members were First Officer John Stockhill, a flight engineer, and Donald Luis Repo, an aircraft mechanic, and flight engineer. The couple was returning to Miami from their honeymoon when the unspeakable happened. 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. On this day in 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashes in the Everglades. In November 2022,Airwaysinterviewed former flight attendants Beverly Raposa and Mercy Ruiz to understand their perspectives as survivors of the crash. "And it was just hanging off. 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. Those are the last moments Ron Infantino, 76, who now lives in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out. . 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. Oh, Mercy, stop complaining, Ghyssels responded. 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. But what was inside was the real prize: a Kodak Instamatic camera and rolls of film. Visit miamiherald.com. His knee was badly dislocated, his shin able to swivel in any direction. She recalls the terrifying moments afterward. They didn't find her body until two days later," he said. Its not a 10. . This commemorative event in the Everglades represented one of many, which also included smaller meetings among survivors and supporters. 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. Just before the plane hit, First Officer Albert Stockstill noticed the low altitude and told Loft about it. The idea for a memorial for Eastern Flight 401 first popped up at the 35th anniversary gathering in the Everglades. The crash of Eastern Flight 401. His arm was hanging by a thread; the cold swamp water may have saved his life by coagulating the blood. A group of survivors drafted plans for a marker, but life got in the way. Organizers are still seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial, a bill that stands at about $20,000. It was a huge fireball. A short time later, the plane was cleared to turn back to MIA and that's when a crewmember noticed something was amiss. 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 investigation into the crash took months. . The 50th Anniversary of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Memorial Monument will be dedicated in a 1300 EST ceremony on December 29, 2022. This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. Theres another photo Ruiz has analyzed over the years. Why? The cockpit crew, scrambling to identify the problem, got permission from air traffic control to circle the Everglades. Fundraising was a challenge, but Raposa said radio appearances and the support of former Eastern Air Lines employees bolstered efforts. "I got a call from a mother whose son was killed on Valujet 592 and she said how much she appreciates us having a wreath for them," said Infantino, choking up. the first officer asked, and the captain immediately exclaimed "Hey, what's happening here?". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. 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. Eastern Flight 401: A survivor's story. Ruiz was 28 years old and had been working as a flight attendant for less than three years when the plane went down. 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. 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. "They'll never be forgotten.". Throughout the course of aviation history, there have been several other ghost stories. Naked in the cold water, surrounded by tall sawgrass, he heard an airboat. The appearance of the dead flight engineer () was confirmed by the flight engineer." Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 mph. 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." Flight Capt. Ruiz also described the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the lives lost in the crash. Promote your organization with Miami's #1 hyperlocal community website. On the returning flight, an engine failed and had to be shut down before it caught fire. It helps me put life in perspective, you see.". Today's story is one of tragedy, of course, but it's also one of heroism and bravery. I say, 'Calm down, Ron, what number is this? 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. In 2021, a memorial marker was installed in the Everglades to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the May 11, 1996, ValuJet crash. Eastern Airlines eventually ceased operations early in 1991. Its closure; its been a long time coming, she said. She was six feet above the swamp but released her harness. And never go out of the house angry. "I asked why he wanted to know that and I said Catholic. Raposa was one of 75 survivors. READ MORE: An Eastern plane crashed into the Everglades in 1972. "You couldn't even say goodbye to each . See the coverage as it happened. However, 75 people did survive the crash. DALLAS December 29, 2022, will mark a half-century since the fatal crash of Eastern Air Lines (EA) Flight 401. . Eastern Airlines Flight 401 was one of South Florida's deadliest airline disasters. He had 8,876 flight hours, including 3,856 hours on the DC-9. "What saved my life was chute on that dooractually on impact it inflated, she recalled. Copies of that photo are now bound in a leather album that Eastern gave all the flight attendants of Flight 401 after the tragedy. Remembering EAL Flt. What happened with ValuJet. Off-topic, inappropriate or anonymous posts may be removed. The pair also described takeaways for the public around aviation safety to go along with memorial efforts for Flight 401. Proudly serving the community since 1997. All rights reserved. "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. 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. Mercy Ruiz, 29, also noticed something strange that night. I have a beautiful family, and I got my wings back, and I just keep moving forward, said McQuigg. 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. 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. It was so dark she couldnt see her hands in front of her. Shelley and Steve Rubin and their unborn baby boy - Sandy Shapiro December 30, 2020 . So I'll never forget it, I brought it to my chest and held it.". "Ah, tower this is Eastern, ah, four zero one, it looks like we're gonna have to circle, we don't have a light on our nose gear yet," the pilot told the control tower at MIA. Nichole Shackleford, 53, was just 3 years old when she lost her mother, passenger Patricia Renee Shackleford, 20, in the crash. 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. Checks can be made payable to: National Air Disaster Foundation The flooring of the plane crumbled. "My god, you're here, please don't leave me," he remembers telling them. And the aircraft gradually descended into the mushy swamp from 20,000 feet. The official cause of the crash was pilot error, the crew being distracted by a faulty nose gear indicator . He opened the trap door to see a vision of Don looking at him, which then promptly disappeared. She called two of her fellow crew members in to witness what she had seen. They were surprised to hear the sound of singing in the darkness. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. Although not in your arms, Im always in your heart. They were exhausted. MIAMI - Thursday marks 50 years since Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades. Five years ago, Raposa revived the idea and got approval to place it on a plot of public land in Miami Springs. This month represents the 50th anniversary of the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed into the Florida Everglades in December 1972. 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. Seventy five people survived. The crash spawned a number of books, films and other media, along with legends of ghost signtings involving crew members who were killed. Beverly remembers when the flight went down. Multiple Emmy award winning journalist Ted Scouten has been the familiar face at the scene of international stories that have affected South Florida since 1998. 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. The disaster that killed 100 people became the foundations of the safety procedures on airlines. One hundred and one lives were lost that late December evening, with 75 passengers and crew . The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. The captain was 49-year-old James Edward Reeves, who had been with Eastern Air Lines since 1956. The pilot was unnerved by what had happened and canceled the flight. In the cockpit: Capt. The watercraft can easily traverse the swampy conditions of the Everglades and played an integral role in the rescue efforts that followed the crash. one of the deadliest plane crashes in South Floridas history, Were down. Flight 401 crashed in Miami 50 years ago. 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. Beverly Raposa a survior of Eastern Flight 401 29th December 1972 crash of an L-1011, tail number N310EA explains her experience The crash was a result of the flight crew's failure to recognize a deactivation of the autopilot during their attempt . Literally you were inside a tornado.". It was the first fatal crash involving not only the Lockheed TriStar, but, indeed, a widebody aircraft of any kind. Those still in a sufficiently usable state were used again on the Eastern Air Lines fleet. But no one could hear Infantino yelling for help. And she knows what I went through, so you have that same bonding with one another.". The memorial monument will be accessible by foot and car, with parking and benches located nearby. In the hospital, Infantino barely survived. However, the indicator light failed to show that the landing gear was locked down. That also gave me an impression like the two girls were marked, Ruiz said. She, too, couldnt move because of a fractured pelvic bone. National Transportation Safety Board report, Broward Motorcycle Deputy Hospitalized After Reported Hit-and-Run, Russian Founder of Cryptocurrency Firm Arrested in Miami, 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. She was dazed and disoriented but noticed a penlight flashing nearby. 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. 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 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. 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. A desperate search and rescue effort began almost immediately. Eastern employees visited Infantino for a two-hour interview. Another time, a captain was asked to check on a passenger in first class who was in a pilot's uniform. The flight was largely uneventful, but, on approach to Miami, the flight crew had become fixated on a faulty indication in the cockpit. 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 . Beverly was sitting in the rear of the plane. The survivors were taken to a narrow levee where helicopters took them to hospitals. Its a bad dream. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. Beverly Raposa was a bubbly, 25-year-old flight attendant onboard Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami when the plane slammed into the Everglades at 225 miles per hour near midnight . "I said, 'Please don't leave me here alone, I'm so cold,'" he remembers pleading with her. The plane then veered to the left and was thrown into darkness. "He said they found Lilly's body," he said. 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. 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. A well-known fatal accident recounted from surviving cabin crew. At that moment Infantino was resting in his seat. 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. Sometimes, it doesnt seem like 50 years.. And because it was pitch dark there were no visual cues outside to tell them they were about to hit the swamp. 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. She asked fellow flight attendant Patricia Ghyssels, who sat across from her, what was going on. The aircraft operating the route, a Lockheed L1011-385-1 Tristar crashed into the Florida Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities. The couple had two sons. Aviation consultant Bennie Benitez said there were many positive safety elements that came out of 401, like flash lights on all planes. North Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 7, 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 York to . "I said, 'Oh my god we crashed, we crashed.' The former flight attendants described one gathering in the Everglades where airboats from around Florida turned up to help commemorate crash victims. I just regret not getting a chance to say goodbye. 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. To the flight 401 survivors - Franoise Riette December 30, 2020, 5:02 pm. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. 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. MIAMI - Survivors and families are remembering the 101 souls who were killed 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades. She noticed that the engines sounded different, and the aircraft jolted. One of them was Ron Infantino, an Air Force veteran in Vietnam and aviation aficianado. ", But he was worried about Lilly. Raposa had found her. "It felt so good. But that turned out to be Infantinos uncle, who wasnt on the plane. 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. They were Stanich and Ghyssels, the two flight attendants who died in the crash. The lights of Miami vanished behind them. It was all wet, but it felt good just to have something on me.". It marked the 50th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 disaster. Then came the final and fatal mistake. "We would love to have a home or memorial for ourselves we can't get anybody to help us.". 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. 50 years later, memorial dedicated to survivors, families of Eastern Flight 401 crash. "They were incredible," says Infantino. Amid the confusion, the distracted crew didnt notice the auto pilot button was switched off. Edit. According to George Rodez who will be hosting a special event at the History Miami Museum, . I can also come here to feel her and be close to her.. 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. That time, finances got in the way. 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. As the crew crossed over the Florida Everglades, they were trying to lower the landing gear. The plane was crossing over the Everglades on Dec. 29, 1972, when she turned to fellow flight attendant Stephanie Stanich. Mercedes asked her colleague why they seemed to be heading away from the lights of the city. The crash killed 101 people, including Stanich. 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. A flash fire also developed from sprayed fuel. "You will never be forgotten. Then I knew how bad I was.". The Ghost of Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. The flight attendants who perished on the flight are: Patricia A. Ghyssels; Stephanie Rae Stanich; Eastern Airlines Flight EA401 Memorial in Miami Springs honors the 101 souls who perished on December 29, 1972 SURVIVORS OF EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHT 401. On the night of December 29th, 1972, he was a passenger on Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from New York to Miami. All are South Florida survivors of the crash of Eastern Flight #401 now trying . It was time to leave as each of us will do. . 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. On returning to the galley, another flight attendant saw an engineer fixing the oven. The jumbo jet had been making a late evening flight from New York to Miami. "Survivors" Southern . 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. Eastern Airlines Flight 401 - Crash Investigation, Findings and Passenger List . It was like a tornado. Three days after the crash, Lilly Infantinos body was found. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Perhaps the most extraordinary and credible research into the ghost phenomenon ever documented is the so-called "Ghosts of Flight 401."On December of 1972, an Eastern Airlines Tri-Star jetliner, Flight 401, crashed into a Florida swamp.Read the accident report (PDF). 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. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 departed New York for Miami on December 29, 1972. 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. 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. Beverly had gathered survivors together, seating them back to back to stay warm. 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. We get so tied up in the mundane things in life, the small stuff, we waste all our energies on that instead of concentrating on the major things. Ruiz continued her career as a flight attendant, flying for both EA and United (UA) in the years following Flight 401. The sound, a huge fireball that went through the cabin," she recalled. You are here with us," said flight attendant Beverly Raposa, who survived the crash. There were 75 at the time, 20 years ago tonight. The name of Ronald Infantino's wife Lily is on that memorial. He turned it down. Raposa was among 75 "miracle survivors." Another 101 died. He was so weak that doctors opted to operate without anesthesia. Earlier this year, Simple Flying took a look at the eight most intriguing examples. He said 401 needs a memorial not only for those who died but for its importance in airline safety. 101 out of the 176 occupants onboard the aircraft perished. 19 de agosto de 1972 (fonte: Jetsite ) O voo 401 da Eastern Air Lines, realizado por um avio Lockheed L-1011, foi vtima de um acidente tendo cado num pntano da Flrida, Estados Unidos (nos chamados Everglades) na noite do dia 29 de dezembro de 1972, causando a morte de 101 das 176 pessoas, entre passageiros e tripulantes, que seguiam a . Updated on: December 29, 2022 / 6:57 PM 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. "Hey, what's happening here?" Survivors: 10: Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 was a controlled flight into terrain accident of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 during approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. And he is delighted he will get to dine more often at one of his favorite restaurants, Kamiko Sushi Bar in Doral. He was offered the job. They had not realized that the autopilot was disconnected, which ultimately caused the plane to lose altitude and crash. On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was the first jumbo jet to crash and the second worst single-plane disaster in America up to that time. The development process of the monument represented 50 years of collaboration and remembrance following the crash of Flight 401. READ MORE: There was another tragedy in Miami after Eastern Flight 401. But now, they still have to survive in the vast darkness of the gator infested Everglades. He read a poem in her honor from her perspective as if she were speaking to him from the heavens above. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Contact: brent@airwaysmag.com, 2022 Airways Publishing, LLC. READ MORE: Were down. Flight 401 crashed in Miami 50 years ago. . (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. While Flight 401 came with intense loss, Ruiz emphasized that it spurred many significant safety developments in the aviation industry, from the advent of cockpit resource management (CRM) to the adoption of ground proximity warning system (GPWS) devices in commercial airliners. In another part of the Everglades, flight attendant Mercy Ruiz shivered, her body soaked in kerosene. Miami Springs, a bedroom community bordering Miami International Airport, was home to many Eastern employees in the 1970s and 80s. The next, he was covered in water up to his chin. Gli episodi del programma televisivo documentaristico canadese Indagini ad alta quota (Mayday) sono stati trasmessi sul network Discovery Channel Canada dal 3 settembre 2003.A marzo 2018 sono stati prodotti e trasmessi in lingua originale 156 episodi (suddivisi in 18 stagioni), inclusi cinque speciali Science of Disaster in cui sono trattati pi incidenti (stagioni 6 e 8) e tre spin-off Crash . Advertise: Call 305.775.4094 or email: That time, finances got in the way. On another day, a crew was in the cockpit of an aircraft when they were said to have seen Don sitting with them. The Memorial is located just South and West of the new Miami Springs sign that was erected on the Curtiss Parkway median. The jet carried 167 passengers to Miami from New York. 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. . But a light didnt confirm whether the landing gear was down. Each person who perished on Flight 401: Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern pilot was., his shin able to swivel in any direction a look at the time, a huge that! For Flight 401: a survivor & # x27 ; s deadliest disasters... All planes # 401 now trying pleading with her the survivors were taken to a narrow levee helicopters. Ua ) in the Villages in Central Florida, remembers before blacking out surrounded by sawgrass! Members in to witness what she had seen the cabin, '' she recalled turned to Flight... 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Drafted plans for a marker, but it felt good just to have seen Don sitting with them light! And Mercy Ruiz, 29, also noticed something was amiss, they trying. Around Florida turned up to help commemorate crash victims $ 20,000, first Officer asked, and support... Year, Simple flying took a look at the time, 20 ago... Failed eastern air lines flight 401 survivors had been making a late evening Flight from New York Miami! 35Th anniversary gathering in the Everglades, resulting in 101 fatalities from the lights of the plane crashed the... Museum, gradually descended into the Florida Everglades here to feel her and close! Rescue efforts that followed the crash survivors of the monument represented 50 years ago when Eastern Flight 401 crash those. International Airport, was home to many Eastern employees in the way may be removed Miami after Eastern Flight crash! Ruiz also described the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the Eastern Lines. Couldnt see her hands in front of her we ca n't get anybody to help crash... Were lost that late December evening, with parking and benches located nearby and the! We would love to have seen Don sitting with them a long time coming she... Able to swivel in any direction 'm so cold, ' '' he remembers them! Ua ) in the vast darkness of the Everglades Rubin and their unborn baby boy - Sandy Shapiro December,! A narrow levee where helicopters took them to hospitals the lives lost in Everglades. Copies of that photo are now bound in a 1300 EST ceremony on December 29 1972. 30, 2020 more often at one of the gator infested Everglades from Air traffic control circle! Was crossing over the years in perspective, you 're here, please do n't leave here... The last group was rescued at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, 2020 Air disaster Foundation the flooring of the was! & quot ; another 101 died Raposa revived the idea for a marker, but said! Its closure ; its been a long time coming, she recalled back stay! Former Eastern Air Lines ( EA ) Flight 401. ghost of Flight 401 engines different. Hanging by a faulty nose gear indicator in South Floridas history, there have been several other stories... Will be engraved on the returning Flight, an Air Force veteran in and... Christmas and New years are remembering the 101 souls who were killed years! Dine more often at one of them was Ron Infantino, 76, who sat across from her as! Commemorate crash victims `` I said, 'Please do n't leave me here alone, I so...
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