The Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Ghosts

On December 29, 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing 101 of the 176 people aboard. In the months that followed, flight crew and passengers on other Eastern L-1011 aircraft reported seeing the ghosts of the dead crew members—particularly on planes containing salvaged parts from the wreck.

The Crash

Flight 401 from New York to Miami:

• Crashed while the crew investigated a landing gear light
• The Lockheed L-1011 descended unnoticed
• It crashed into the Everglades
• 101 people died, including the flight crew

The Deceased Crew

Those killed included:

• Captain Robert Loft
• Second Officer Don Repo
• Both would reportedly be seen as ghosts

The Salvaged Parts

After the crash:

• Some usable parts were salvaged
• These were installed in other L-1011 aircraft
• The apparitions appeared primarily on these planes
• This connection wasn’t immediately recognized

The Sightings

Flight crews began reporting:

• Seeing Captain Loft in the cockpit
• Second Officer Repo appearing in galleys and below deck
• Full, solid apparitions—not transparent
• The ghosts interacted with crew members

Captain Loft Sightings

Witnesses reported Loft:

• Sitting in jump seats
• Speaking briefly before vanishing
• Appearing in first-class sections
• Looking concerned or warning of danger

Don Repo Sightings

Repo was seen more frequently:

• In galleys and crew areas
• Checking equipment
• Apparently trying to help
• Warning of potential problems

Documented Encounters

Specific incidents included:

• A flight attendant spoke with a man in captain’s uniform who then vanished
• An engineer saw Repo and had him identified from photographs
• A captain saw Repo’s reflection in an oven door
• Multiple crew members on the same flights saw figures

The Pattern

Investigators noticed:

• Sightings occurred primarily on specific aircraft
• These planes contained salvaged parts from 401
• When parts were removed, sightings decreased
• The connection seemed significant

Eastern Airlines Response

The airline:

• Reportedly suppressed reports
• Disciplined crew who filed reports
• Eventually removed salvaged parts
• Never officially acknowledged the sightings

John Fuller’s Book

Author John Fuller documented the case:

• Published “The Ghost of Flight 401” (1976)
• Interviewed numerous witnesses
• Documented the parts connection
• The book became a bestseller

Skeptical Views

Critics argued:

• Grief and stress caused hallucinations
• Stories grew in the telling
• No documentation from Eastern survives
• Corporate cover-up conveniently explains lack of records

The Witnesses

Those who reported sightings were:

• Experienced flight crew
• Not prone to hysteria
• Willing to risk their jobs to report
• Consistent in their descriptions

Significance

The Flight 401 ghosts are significant for:

• Multiple independent witnesses
• Professional observers (flight crew)
• Connection to physical objects (parts)
• Pattern recognized only in hindsight
• Cultural impact through Fuller’s book

Legacy

Whether genuine hauntings or collective grief, the Flight 401 ghost stories remain among aviation’s most famous paranormal accounts. The idea that spirits could attach to salvaged objects added a unique dimension to ghost lore.