Lufthansa brought the JU-52 to MIA on a promotional tour and their station manager, Walter Kadereit, invited some airport people for a ride on it off the coastline of Miami Beach. Unfortunately we lost the #2 engine on takeoff from runway 12 and banked left over the old fire station and flew straight north over Miami Springs at low level. Smoke was coming down the windows on both sides and the captain declared an emergency. We came back and landed on runway 12 without incident as the fire engines were rolling towards us, which impressed the airport fire chief who was seated next to me. If we had gone down and met our demise there would have been promotional opportunites galore at the airport.
This aircraft was formerly owned by author Martin Caidin (Six Million Dollar Man) and was named "Iron Annie" and it was flown on the air show circuit for years. Lufthansa bought it and refurbished it for promotional purposes.