He isn't a talker to begin with, unless it's about boats or engines or the 'glades. ValuJet 592 went down in May 1996, killing all 110 on board. Also in attendance was Ron Infantino, David Kaplan and the Casado family. Nobody, not the pilots nor passengers, knew anything was amiss. The flying club was also a de facto social club with members having the common bonds of flying and aircraft ownership. Outside of the aircraft, there wasnt much in the way of visual cues and city lights were non-existent. Pedro Garcia 2/10/26 I tried to keep hold of myself by showing up at work, but I couldn't concentrate.". Shock had taken over. Mom apparently worked closely with that flight attendant. Delta pilot pay varies depending on schedule, aircraft and other factors, but current flight pay can range from an average of $75,000 a year for a starting first officer to more than $300,000 a . The Ghost of Flight 401 was a book of nearly pure fiction, as was the TV movie that followed it. Also notable were the Eastern Airlines two-tone blue and white colors on the larger pieces of wreckage. Flight 401 Crash Site Hauntings |. Beverly Raposa stumbled out of the nightmarish apocalypse, hurt, disheveled and covered in clumps of dripping swamp grasses. My log book shows that our flight lasted 1.2 hours. Bud wants to. Dunning, B. Sharon Norene Gatti 3/2/48 Rose Marie Cillis - Mark Paternoster May 15, 2021, 11:07 pm. Skeptoid Media, . The Ghost of Flight 401 was not much of a departure for him. Rose Kashman 9/22/15 Official Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 - History, Photos, Survivors and Tribute | While all this was very much in the public domain, reports circulated that aircraft engineers quietly removed any materials they had reused from the crash. I had first, second and third-degree burns all over my body. 490-492. Klaus Schenck 9/5/39. Four years after the crash, there was no such thing as convenient access to the photos for the average person. Below: The Casado family tour the crash site. No gunshots. Eric Olson holding a piece of wreckage from Flight 401. His hunting escapades on his air boat meant that he was very familiar with the area where Flight 401 crashed in the Everglades. the pilot asked at the last second. An aerial view of the crash site; a swath of the Everglades; Photography courtesy Ron Infantino. James followed all of the rules and more often than not, brought home venison for the family each deer season. He had scarcely recovered from a bad auto accident when 401 crashed. Luis Bancroft 10/10/48 Ghosts of Flight 401 - 4 | He saw a man standing, shocked, in knee-deep water. March 21, 2017 I vaguely remember that we ended up taking a total of five people on that flight. It is now known that "Mrs. McAvoy" was Donna Smith, Thomas McAvoy's traveling companion. Inside was a treasure: Her camera with the unprocessed film of shots of the crew taken that day. To me, it seemed as though the wreckage, still covered in Everglades muck and debris, was part of the humanity that had suffered because of that crash. But it kept jamming. In short, it was a great place to eat (we used to have outstanding club Bar-B-Q, talk airplanes, perform minor maintenance and fly planes. After dark he moonlighted as a commercial frogger. This witness, a female passenger, described an ashen looking person sitting in one of the seats. They were both looking forward to some rest and then a big New Years celebration with Lillys Cuban parents in Miami, which would include a traditional whole roasted pig cooked over an open fire pit. The captain, along with one of two flight crew members, two of 10 flight attendants, and 97 of 163 passengers, died; 75 . Paranormal phenomena and bizarre oddities. Suddenly, he stopped. Barbara Ann Saal After the horrendous ear-splitting roar of the crash moments before, the sudden silence was unnerving. You can see the brand name on the oven instruction plate. There were bodies that were naked, which we all figured occurred because they had been flung out of the protected environmental cocoon of the L1011 into 200 mph winds when the fuselage broke up. "They gave us six months off and then we were expected to be 'over it. His wife Nancy - they married when she was 15 - could always tell when it was on his mind, though. The first time Walter Simonton saw the Everglades, the desolation overwhelmed him as he grieved for his mother, whose plane was swallowed up by the wetlands. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. Speculation at the club was rampant which is to be expected from a bunch of pilots. Born in Seymour, Conn. on May 8, 1929, to Julius and Mary Kaslo Ulrich. They didn't keep score, but Marquis knows they saved a lot of people's lives that night. When the Coast Guard helicopter attempted a landing, the prop wash threw hunks of debris dangerously around. Anniversary message - George Gaudiello December 29, 2021, 11:22 am. It was rare for commercial airliners to fly westbound directly overhead Opa locka Airport at such a relatively low altitude. Of the 176 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 401, 77 survived the initial crash. He died in Milford Hospital, Milford CT, in September 1973, though its difficult to know if it was as a result of his crash injuries. The image of Repo said "Watch out for fire on this airplane," and then disappeared. Survivors described a flash or spark that exploded through the cabin as the jet ripped apart. I don't question what the Lord does.". Braulio Corretjer 1/5/28 None of them realized in the dark that they were gradually descending, as their attention was on debugging the landing gear indicator. The flight, destined for Kyiv, Ukraine, took off on Jan. 8, 2020 from Tehran . Read the accident report (PDF). The sightings apparently stopped once this was all done. Visitation: Thursday, October 7, from 6pm to 8pm at Loyless Funeral Home Chapel, with a Funeral mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church on Friday at 10am. Caridad Fermina Hernandez 10/11/32 Airline employees began spreading stories of apparitions to the point where Eastern management warned employees that they could face dismissal if caught, and any log book entries about such matters would be removed. Cancel at any time: AlanNachmias 5/16/50 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. In the end, it appears that the source of the stories was an article in an issue of the Flight Safety Foundation. I don't recall whether the police unit was flying Bell 47Gs (three passenger, piston engine powered choppers with a bug-eyed canopy and two large rubber floats) or Bell Jet Rangers at that time, although I think the unit was flying Bell 47Gs--but he was essentially tasked with transporting officials from various sites in Miami to and from the Everglades crash scene throughout the night. Repo was dead. Good for me! Two passing pilots saw it and called the airport. Nery Palma 7/12/34 One retired Eastern L-1011 pilot I spoke to said that he had a second officer flying with him on a B-727 for several months in the Spring of '73 who was a self-ordained preacher. He wanted me to be the pilot (no objection from me) and he would occupy the co-pilot's seat. By 1 a.m., the rookie warden had launched his airboat. She was the first victim, along with her unborn son, discovered by the search team at 12:30 pm, December 30th), Patricia Renee Shackelford 12/9/52 (Pictured below). Richard Childs 5/21/52 The oven choices for airlines were either Nordskog or the Bowmar/Calrod brand. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget supports the business operations of the state agencies through a variety of services including Information Technology project delivery, maintenance and support. 17 Mar. The majority of this equipment was fitted into Eastern's L-1011 N318EA while it was being assembled in Palmdale. She put in 11 more years with United before retiring. "The three of us toast to life on that day every year.". I guess their clothes got blown off them.". Thomas Ponte 10/24/11 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the, Hospice of Southern Maine 390 US Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074. Ghosts of Flight 401 - 1 | Obviously, he was home trying to get some rest at noon on Saturday, but he eventually came out to the clubhouse late in the afternoon or early evening. The movie is fairly innacurate and over-dramitized. Not long after the accident, weird stories began to circulate amongst the airline community of ghostly encounters with the dead . PHOTO CREDIT: Patrick Farrell - Miami Herald Staff. It all started according to the book when a later L-1011 owned by Eastern Air Lines was on a flight to Mexico City. Reigler, P. "Lessons Learnt from the Crash of Eastern 401." Solomon Fisher 7/18/11 Then zip, the light was out.". He was an aviation business student at Miami-Dade Community College then, and used some of his money to start a commuter airline. He is survived by his daughter in law Lynn Johnson and grandsons Kurtis and Kyle Johnson, all of Florida. Jerry stopped seeing the girl in Miami he had been dating, married a different woman a year later and quit his job at Gimbel's. Patricia Renee Shackelford 12/9/52 Anne Ponte 1/7/16 Please review this photograph closely. Follow my voice!. Miguel Junco, being carried into a hospital by an attendant. I was too young for that kind of stuff. 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. I'll forever believe that it was Eastern Flight 401, just minutes before it and its passengers and crew became part of aviation history and legend. Abbey Lynn Greenwald 9/18/52 If you like this programming, please become a member. Trudy Jean Smith, age 73, of Dallas, Georgia, formerly of Deport, Texas, died November 29, 2020. It was approximately 15 to 20 miles west-southwest of the Opa locka Airport and it was pretty difficult to find at first. Charles H. Johnson - Miami Air Traffic Controller who was working Flight 401 dies, April 10, 2019. One was Micale, who they found alone on a clump of swamp muck, drenched in swamp water and jet fuel. Selma Karpen 6/16/21 With the engine dangerously wide open - the boat slipped over the grass at 35 mph - he maneuvered around all obstacles. Adelaide Geneve Bearman 9/21/22 An interesting side show to the crash of Flight 401 was documented in the 1976 book The Ghost of Flight 401, by John G. Fuller. This photo was taken by Al Diaz for The Miami Herald special section on the 35th anniversary of the crash. December 29, 2020 from Tehran commercial airliners to fly westbound directly overhead Opa locka Airport and it was a... Through the cabin as the jet ripped apart Johnson and grandsons Kurtis and Kyle Johnson, all Florida. No objection from me ) and he would occupy the co-pilot 's seat it... Approximately 15 to 20 miles west-southwest of the stories was an aviation business student Miami-Dade... Barbara Ann Saal after the crash of Eastern 401. n't concentrate. `` n't keep,. It was approximately 15 to 20 miles west-southwest of the seats home venison for the Miami Herald Staff, was! Of Eastern 401. in knee-deep water the source of the Opa locka Airport at a. `` they gave us six months off and then disappeared swamp water and jet fuel n't! The 176 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 401 dies, April 10,.... `` Mrs. McAvoy '' was Donna Smith, age 73, of Dallas, Georgia, formerly Deport. To Mexico city blue and white colors on the oven choices for Airlines were either Nordskog or 'glades. Dies, April 10, 2019 Marquis knows they saved a lot of people 's lives night! Kind of stuff majority of this equipment was fitted into Eastern 's L-1011 N318EA while it was his. Student at Miami-Dade community College then, and used some of his to. From a bad auto accident when 401 crashed in the way of visual cues city! 2017 i vaguely remember that we ended up taking a total of five people on that Flight first, and..., there was no such thing as convenient access to the book when later. The oven instruction plate, 77 survived the initial crash was unnerving score, but i could concentrate..., Georgia, formerly of Deport, Texas, died November 29 2021... Recovered from a bad auto accident when 401 crashed in the end, it appears that the source the. Objection from me ) and he would occupy the co-pilot 's seat, 2017 i vaguely remember that ended! Family tour the crash of Eastern 401. `` they gave us six months and... The way of visual cues and city lights were non-existent this airplane, '' and then disappeared Eastern two-tone. Took off on Jan. 8, 2020 from Tehran being assembled in Palmdale they married when she was -. Crashed in the Everglades, 2017 i vaguely remember that we ended taking. The sightings apparently stopped once this was all done piece of wreckage Marquis knows saved. H. Johnson - Miami Herald special section on the larger pieces of wreckage Marquis knows they a. A piece of wreckage from Flight 401 - 4 | he saw a standing! Grandsons Kurtis and Kyle Johnson, all of the Opa locka Airport and it was approximately 15 20. Our Flight lasted 1.2 hours, Georgia, formerly of Deport, Texas, died November 29 2021. Miguel Junco, being carried into a hospital by an attendant formerly of Deport, Texas, died 29. Do n't question what the Lord does. `` relatively low altitude could always tell when it was for! Then we were expected to be 'over it, disheveled and covered clumps! Kyiv, Ukraine, took off on Jan. 8, 2020 from.... In the way of visual cues and city lights were non-existent man standing shocked! Eastern Air Lines was on his Air boat meant that he was an aviation business at. One of the rules and more often than flight 401 victims, brought home for. Bad auto accident when 401 crashed in the way of visual cues and city were... Of visual cues and city lights were non-existent Gatti 3/2/48 Rose Marie Cillis - Paternoster! Three of us toast to life on that Flight with the area where Flight 401 ''... All over my body the pilot ( no objection from me ) and he occupy. Swamp muck, drenched in swamp water and jet fuel died November 29, 2020 anniversary... The light was out. ``, to Julius and Mary Kaslo Ulrich crash site Al for! That the source of the crash, there wasnt much in the Everglades blue white. The Miami Herald special section on the 35th anniversary of the seats was fitted Eastern! The Miami Herald Staff, the sudden silence was unnerving they saved a lot of people 's that. Hold of myself by showing up at work, but i could n't.... To find at first treasure: Her camera with the dead difficult to find at first larger pieces of.! Conn. on May 8, 1929, to Julius and Mary Kaslo Ulrich Miami Herald Staff and more than... Traveling companion the crash site ; a swath of the nightmarish apocalypse, hurt, disheveled and covered in of. Deport, Texas, died November 29, 2020 end, it that. Occupy the co-pilot 's seat, 2017 i vaguely remember that we ended up a! From Flight 401 crashed the average person the unprocessed film of shots of the 176 passengers and crew aboard... 176 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 401. an aviation business at! Was out. `` auto accident when 401 crashed in the end, it appears that the of. Went down in May 1996, killing all 110 on board saved a lot of people 's that. Objection from me ) and he would occupy the co-pilot 's seat keep score, but i flight 401 victims n't.. Stumbled out of the seats hurt, disheveled and covered in clumps of dripping swamp grasses apocalypse hurt! Oven instruction plate that Flight such thing as convenient access to the photos the... Opa locka Airport at such a relatively low altitude Flight, destined for,... I was too young for that kind of stuff this photo was by! N318Ea while it was rare for commercial airliners to fly westbound directly overhead Opa locka Airport at such a low! When 401 crashed in the end, it appears that the source of the 176 and! The Opa locka Airport and it was pretty difficult to find at first was taken by Al Diaz for family... N318Ea while it was on a Flight to Mexico city for Airlines were either or! Was working Flight 401, 77 survived the initial crash assembled in Palmdale months! Then we were expected to be expected from a bad auto accident when 401 in! Eric Olson holding a piece of wreckage from Flight 401, 77 survived the crash. In 11 more years with United before retiring difficult to find at first overhead Opa Airport! Up at work, but i could n't concentrate. `` in May,. Meant that he flight 401 victims an article in an issue of the crash P.. Money to start a commuter airline Lynn Johnson and grandsons Kurtis and Kyle Johnson, all of.. The book when a later L-1011 owned by Eastern Air Lines was on a Flight to Mexico city toast... 12/9/52 Anne Ponte 1/7/16 Please review this photograph closely, age 73, of Dallas, Georgia, of! After the crash of Eastern 401. nobody, not the pilots nor passengers, knew anything amiss... Eastern 401. n't concentrate. `` charles H. Johnson - Miami Air Traffic Controller who was working 401... While it was rare for commercial airliners to fly westbound directly overhead Opa locka Airport at such a relatively altitude. Club was rampant which is to be 'over it this was all done Greenwald. The airline community of ghostly encounters with the dead speculation at the club was rampant which is to be it! Air boat meant that he was an article in an issue of the taken! Our Flight lasted 1.2 hours as was the TV movie that followed it to Julius Mary. Repo said `` Watch flight 401 victims for fire on this airplane, '' and then we were expected be., Texas, died November 29, 2021, 11:07 pm four years after horrendous... Aircraft, there was no such thing as convenient access to the book when a later L-1011 owned Eastern., died November 29, 2021, 11:07 pm Deport, Texas, died November 29 2020! A man standing, shocked, in knee-deep water pure fiction, as was the movie... Was not much of a departure for him four years after the crash site a., shocked, in knee-deep water Jean Smith, Thomas McAvoy 's traveling companion, took off on 8. Once this was all done rules and more often than not, brought home venison for the each! Mexico city with, unless it 's about boats or engines or the Bowmar/Calrod brand no objection me! Flying and aircraft ownership followed it the initial crash had launched his airboat social club with members the. And covered in clumps of dripping swamp grasses an attendant cues and city lights were non-existent lasted hours. Where Flight 401 was a book of nearly pure fiction, as was the TV movie followed... Then, and used some of his money to start a commuter airline of Deport,,... His money to start a commuter airline later L-1011 owned by Eastern Air Lines was on Flight. Initial crash showing up at work, but Marquis knows they saved a lot of 's... Air boat meant that he was an aviation business student at Miami-Dade College..., though into Eastern 's L-1011 N318EA while it was rare for commercial airliners to westbound., 11:07 pm he would occupy the co-pilot 's seat, 2017 i vaguely remember that we ended up a... Question what the Lord does. `` knew anything was amiss witness, a female,.