OK, here's a strange question.

About 4 years ago, I was having a discussion with a co-worker and he was telling me that he was on a flight into JFK during a heavy thunderstorm. They dropped violently and then the engines punched in and the pilot said they were heading to EWR. When they got off the plane, they saw on the TV that a plane had crashed @ JFK......obviously, Eastern 66.

From my knowledge, a Flying Tigers DC-8 reported a very strong wind shear along the approach to 22L. Then an Eastern L-1011 nearly crashed before heading to EWR. Two more planes landed before Eastern 66 began its ill-fated approach.

So, I'm wondering if my co-worker was on that Eastern L-1011. He said he was coming from the Bahamas. Was the Eastern L-1011 the only divert to EWR before the crash? I couldn't quite tell from the story if they diverted because of weather or the crash itself. Anyone know where that L-1011 was coming from.....because if it was NAS, that would confirm my suspicion.

[Edited 2013-01-02 16:57:00]

When there is a major accident at an airport, the entire airport is closed for at least several hours so I can gurantee you that there were numerous diverts, probably many to EWR, AFTER the crash.

Quoting PassedV1 (Reply 1):

Good point......I brain-farted on that.   I edited it out.

I am 99 percent sure the L1011 that went missed was coming from Mexico City.

Quoting Cody (Reply 3): I am 99 percent sure the L1011 that went missed was coming from Mexico City.

Not to be picky, but EA´s L1011s could not make it to JFK from MEX. They had to do MEX-ACA-JFK

Flew JFK to MEX on an EA L-1011 back in 1985. It indeed was a nonstop (flight 901 down and 900 back). The ACA part was a continuation from Mexico City.

Me too. I flew JFK-MEX-ACA as well, in 1982,

but that accident you are writing about here, wasn't that an EA 727-225 that crashed off Rockaway Blvd in 1975?

EA66 came from MSY inbound for JFK and that was def. not a L10, I happened to be in my office at JFK that day and vaguely remember that.

There was a Flying Tigers DC-8 and an Eastern L1011 that went around just prior to the Eastern 727 (flight 66) crash. The Flying Tigers DC-8 Captain insisted that they change runways. He testified in the NTSB hearings.

The Eastern L1011 was coming from Mexico City.

OK, Cody, now the opening makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

The August, 1977 issue of National Geographic has a lengthy article about air safety. The article's focus is on the EA 727 crash at JFK, and includes quotes from the pilot of the EA L-1011 that was ahead of the ill-fated 727.

The cover of the magazine shows a picture of an L-1011 over the California coast, taken from a tail mounted camera.

I highly recommend buying this magazine on Ebay if you want to learn more about the EA 66 crash!

On the day 66 crashed, I was on the QE2 heading to England. I was traveling with the F/A Base Manager based at ORD. I was the Dining Services Mgr at the time.Each of us had a F/C cabin next to each other. Of course there was no CNN, internet etc. The only info we had was the daily newspaper under the door. We'll I got mine first and the front page was all about Eastern. Of course he freeked as we didn't know what crew base the F/A's were from. He wanted to find a way to get off the ship. Right! In the middle of the Atlantic!!!! Well we went to the crew and he was able to call his office and found out they were based in NY, I think. I also remember working as a F/A on this flight, actually as an extra pair of hands, as I never qualified, so was just a manager on board. We were trying a new service and flight 66's flying time and time of day was perfect. I think it before the crash. Yes, a new service with upgraded coach and F/C meals and service. Crystal and china! I also got to ride the cockpit jumpseat.

Quoting AR385 (Reply 4): Not to be picky, but EA´s L1011s could not make it to JFK from MEX. They had to do MEX-ACA-JFK

EA timetables show L-1011s operating nonstop MEX-JFK.

Quoting AR385 (Reply 4): Not to be picky, but EA´s L1011s could not make it to JFK from MEX. They had to do MEX-ACA-JFK

It's 2100 miles. Why the hell not?!

Was there a movie made about this crash? I vaguely remember watching something on TV when I was a little boy about a plane crashing on the beach near JFK.

Quoting a318 (Reply 13):

Based on your age, I'd say no-------but then again, we're talking about JFK, so take your pick:

Eastern 66
American 1
American 587
Avianca 52
TWA 800
Egyptair 990
Swissair 111
Eastern 663
TWA 843--doubt it

also, you may have confused it with LGA--------big list there also

[Edited 2013-01-03 15:10:20]

I worked the 900-901 as a F/A in 1978 and it did indeed go JFK-MEX-ACA. Wonderful layover in Acapulco.

I was just reading the report on the crash, which is linked to this Wiki page; it makes very interesting reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Air_Lines_Flight_66

As well as the Flying Tigers DC8 and the Eastern L1011, there was also a Finnair DC10 (which would have been very new to the airline at the time, since they were only delivered in early '75) and a light aircraft. All of the commercial aircraft had their recorders checked by the NTSB.

Although a tragic incident, a lot of lessons were learned from the crash of EA 66 and indeed, from the crash of DL 191, a decade later (which had a much more advanced FDR, which yielded valuable info to investigators).

Thankfully, such accidents are very rare and airlines are very much more aware (and of course, their crews too) of the dangers of windshear.

My friend Jim was there the day of the crash. He was on his way to JFK when the bird went over
and he saw the fireball. He knew it would be a bad day at work. Sad.

I was in the office one day during heavy thunderstorms, and he turned around in his chair and
told me about it. It was shocking. First person I knew who watched a plane crash.