Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Captained by pilot Robert Linquist, assisted by co-pilot Ernest Hill and stewardess Mary Burkes, the aircraft ended its Miami-San Juan leg at 19:40 EST on 27 December. Linquist informed local repair crewmen that a landing gear warning light was not functioning and that the aircraft batteries were discharged and low on water. Unwilling to delay the aircraft''s scheduled takeoff for Miami for several hours, Linquist said the batteries would be recharged by the aircraft''s generators en route. Linquist taxied NC16002 to the end of runway 27 for takeoff, but stopped at the end of the tarmac due to lack of two-way radio communication.