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The Ghost of Flight 401

  • TV Movie
  • 1978
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
743
YOUR RATING
The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978)
DramaMysteryThriller

An aircraft crashes in the Florida Everglades, killing 103 passengers. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. Soon passengers and ... Read allAn aircraft crashes in the Florida Everglades, killing 103 passengers. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. Soon passengers and crew on those aircraft report seeing what they believe to be the ghost of the wrecked airp... Read allAn aircraft crashes in the Florida Everglades, killing 103 passengers. After the wreckage is removed, salvageable parts from the plane are used to repair other aircraft. Soon passengers and crew on those aircraft report seeing what they believe to be the ghost of the wrecked airplane's flight engineer.

  • Director
    • Steven Hilliard Stern
  • Writers
    • Robert Malcolm Young
    • John G. Fuller
  • Stars
    • Ernest Borgnine
    • Gary Lockwood
    • Tina Chen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    743
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Steven Hilliard Stern
    • Writers
      • Robert Malcolm Young
      • John G. Fuller
    • Stars
      • Ernest Borgnine
      • Gary Lockwood
      • Tina Chen
    • 18User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos5

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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • Dom Cimoli
    Gary Lockwood
    Gary Lockwood
    • Jordan Evanhower
    Tina Chen
    Tina Chen
    • Val
    Kim Basinger
    Kim Basinger
    • Prissy Frasier
    Tom Clancy
    Tom Clancy
    • Dutch
    Howard Hesseman
    Howard Hesseman
    • Bert Stockwell
    Russell Johnson
    Russell Johnson
    • Loft
    Robert F. Lyons
    Robert F. Lyons
    • Bill Bowdish
    Allan Miller
    Allan Miller
    • Les Garrick
    Alan Oppenheimer
    Alan Oppenheimer
    • Barton
    Carol Eve Rossen
    Carol Eve Rossen
    • Maria Cimoli
    • (as Carol Rossen)
    Eugene Roche
    Eugene Roche
    • Andrews
    Luis Avalos
    Luis Avalos
    • Rescuer
    Ted Hartley
    Ted Hartley
    Byron Morrow
    Byron Morrow
    • Bailey
    John Quade
    John Quade
    • Marshall
    Beverly Todd
    Beverly Todd
    • Dana
    Angela Clarke
    Angela Clarke
    • Mrs. Collura
    • Director
      • Steven Hilliard Stern
    • Writers
      • Robert Malcolm Young
      • John G. Fuller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    5.7743
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    Featured reviews

    8tim_speckmann-05957

    Damn. That was scary.

    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.
    Cheryl-12

    A very creepy ghost story

    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.
    thekingcrabjim

    There that night

    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."
    10swa_fun

    Excellent Sets & Character Depth

    I give "The Ghost Of Flight 401" (Based on the book by John Fuller) a 10-star rating based on hearing these stories first-hand. Having been a Flight Attendant with Eastern Air Lines for well over seven years (1980 to early 1988), I can state with confidence that this Emmy Nominated, Made-For-TV Movie (1978) gives an accurate portrayal of these fateful events -- not to mention those who experienced the situation first-hand.

    The sets are excellent. I liked working on the L-1011 for the lower-galley, which is accurately portrayed (set-wise) in the film. The aircraft cabin is equally impressive. Everything for which an experienced crew member can find fault in the usual "airplane" movie is covered here with accuracy and attention to detail. Other sets include the homes of employees, not to mention the offices of our once-beloved Eastern Air Lines. Although not a carbon copy of our Corporate Offices, the sets provide a believable backdrop to both story line and characters alike.

    As for Character Depth, the actors portray those involved with a genuine sense of suspense, worry and concern for what is happening to them. This is refreshing, seeing as another TV Movie based on these events proved to be nothing short of a prime time Soap Opera. In "The Ghost Of Flight 401," you feel what the characters feel. It is a realistic portrayal of the fear and fascination these people experienced in dealing with said events.

    No spoilers here...you have to see this one for yourself. Very well done from the aspect of one who flew with and heard stories from those who experienced these events first-hand. Fantastic as the events may seem, it was real to the actual people involved. Well produced, the film takes you along for the ride. One thing is for sure: "The Ghost Of Flight 401" will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. Much like the book -- a real page-turner -- you can't help but wonder what will happen next.

    Great entertainment all the way around the board.
    9pmakres1

    A really intriguing story

    This very intriguing story about Eastern Airlines flight 401 which crashed in the everglades, is a really good movie that deserves a look for any who have not seen it. I taped it many years ago and occasionally take another look at it, as I did last evening. Apparently this was a made for TV movie, and is not available on DVD. I wish it was! The movie really gives one pause to think about all the things we really don't realize or understand about life and death. It contains a good cast and is acted well. Among the familiar faces are Ernest Borgnine and Russell Johnson of Gilligan's Island fame. If anyone hears of it becoming available, please let me know.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kim Basinger's debut with scene actions.
    • Goofs
      When the engine fire breaks out on the New York City to Mexico City flight piloted by Captain Garrick as predicted by Dom Cimoli's ghost, the smoke is obviously drifting in a light breeze instead of being blown back into the airstream of an airliner in flight.
    • Quotes

      Dom Cimoli: [Bill Bowdish comes to the galley to see for himself if Dom's ghost is there] Watch out for fire on this airplane, Bill.

    • Connections
      Followed by Crash (1978)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 18, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Geist von Flug 401
    • Production companies
      • Emmet G. Lavery Jr. Productions Inc.
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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