The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978)

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Based on the book by John G. Fuller. this TV movie portrays the aftermath of the crash of flight 401 into the Florida Everglades on a late December night in 1972, where reports that the ghost of the flight engineer(played by Ernest Borgnine) appeared to passengers and crew on other planes that had used salvaged parts from 401, and the skeptical airline's attempt to crush the rumors, which proves futile when credible witnesses(like other pilots and stewardesses) claimed to have seen the ghost as well...Simplified and condensed version of the interesting book is a misfire, suffering from unimaginative direction and a sappy score. Costars Kim Basinger, and Russell Johnson as Captain Loft. Not yet on DVD, but can be found on YouTube.

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.

The true story of an Eastern Airlines L-1011 which crashed in the Everglades while making a long approach on Miami International Airport. It is surmised the pilot while distracted because of nose gear warning, inadvertently disengaged the auto pilot resulting in the plane crashing. Sightings of the dead crew were reported over the next several years by several dozen Eastern employees, who had known them. A true mystery of the supernatural. A film well worth watching.

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.