The Ghost of Flight 401

By Crusader1307

 An enduring Ghost Story still told, it involves the now defunct American Airliner Company Eastern Airlines. In 1973, EA Flight 401 (an L-1011 "Tristar") took off from Miami, Florida on a short Flight to Orlando, Florida. The aircraft had 100 passengers including crew. The Captain of the aircraft was a seasoned and experienced Flyer, one Robert Loft - was due for retirement. The Flights Engineer, Don Repo, was also one of Eastern Airlines most experienced in-flight Engineers. It is still unclear exactly what happened. The official FAA (Federal Aviation Agency), state that a "freak lighting storm" hit the aircraft over the Everglades Swamps. The plane went down with a loss of all on board. By 1974, things began to get "strange" for Eastern Airlines. Reports began to surface from Flight Crews of a uniformed Eastern Airlines "Pilot" seen either sitting or standing in the rear sections of the plane. This "Pilot" was at first was thought as being a "Deadhead", or Eastern Employee who was taking a "free flight". Attendants thought it odd that a "Captain" would ride in the back. The "Employee" never spoke. When it came time for landing procedures, when Flight Attendants went to check on him, he was no where to be found!

Reports like this began to increase with The Airlines. It was only reported on Tristar-Class planes. On one particular flight, an Attendant went and got the Captain to investigate. As he walked back he saw the "other" Captain. He immediately recognized him.....as the "late" Robert Loft! Word spread of The Ghost. In addition to the "Captain", flight Engineers began to experience their own "encounters". Often, they would receiver strange malfunction readings in the wing flaps. Going "below" into the Maintenance Hold, they would encounter none other than deceased Engineer Don Repo, "pointing" towards a panel which controlled the flaps. As they approached "Don" would disappear. These sightings would continue for several more months. In 1976, a Tristar suddenly experienced flap problems, discovered just prior to take off. Had it been discovered in flight, it was speculated the plane would gave crashed. A subsequent recall of all Tristars found the entire Fleet with the defect. It was repaired. The FAA opened the Case of Flight 401 again. Closer examination, of the wreckage yielded that it was THIS malfunction that brought the flight down in 1973, not the thunderstorm.

With this, no further "sightings" of The Ghosts of Flight 401 were experienced.