The Ghost of Flight 401

Based on a true story, about the ghost of an airplane disaster.

I just bumped into this movie on YouTube thinking I was getting one of those 1970s airplane disaster movies, I got a totally different sort of disaster movie: one said to be based on fact!

I have not done the required research on this story to state if I think the whole event is real or not. But, I must admit, it strikes me as a bit strange that I am finding out about this "famous story" now in 2016. I am a middle aged man who usually knows about these sort of strange events in the USA. Yes, I know the airline involved kept a lid on it, but still, why did it take nearly 40 years for me to find out about this "famous story"??

I am not sure why Ernest Borgnine was cast in this film? Maybe he looks like the the real guy this happened to? If so, that is a good reason for casting him in the role. The problem I find is that he is such a big Hollywood name, sometimes a comical name, and seeing him pop in and out of the movie like Barbera Eden in I Dream Of Jeannie takes from the dramatic impact we are meant to feel.

But all in all, The Ghost Of Flight 401 is great to see on YouTube...I hope they don't take it down.

I was on the employee bus to the terminal with Dee Dee Welch that night. She was the gate agent who was working the inbound Flight 401 that night. It was a hellish night for everyone concerned at Eastern and more for the survivors of the crash and the relatives and friends waiting for the flights arrival.

I left Eastern within a year after the crash. John Fuller tracked me down as most Eastern Airlines Employees would not talk to him. What I can tell you from a crew schedulers point of view is that I was having a hard time working around crews would over the next year walk of the aircraft each time they encounter the ghost of one of the crew members of Flight 401. My name is appears on pages 78 and 79 in the book "The Ghost of Flight 401."

I remember seeing this movie as a teenager and I was riveted. It's based on a true story, and Ernest Borgnine plays Dom Cimoli, the flight engineer who, in the movie, went into the cargo hold to inspect the landing gear and put it down by hand if needed. The best part was the odd appearances of his ghost in other planes, which the other characters find out have parts salvaged from flight 401. Even his wife, we eventually learn, feels his presence in the bed beside her at night. It's as if he's making sure he keeps taking care of his family and continues his devotion to the airline he loved. As usual, a typically good Borgnine plays even a ghost and makes you like him.

This movie was based on the true story of an airline pilot who was killed in a crash due to faulty parts in the plane. His ghost was reportedly seen by flight attendants and passengers on other flights after his death. It's a very creepy film, much in the style of "The Entity" and "Amityville Horror". If you like true ghost stories, you should like this made for television movie.

Love these Movies from the 70's and the 80's. You can feel the Love and Joy what they puttet into their Work. Nice Movie. Really nice to watch and worth to watch it.