Air France jet 'may have exploded mid-air'

9 News ^ | Thu Jun 4 2009 | AFP

[tflabo]

Sounds like a bomb.

Probably not likely. The pilot sent a manual signal that they were near black cumulus storm clouds. Probably structural failure from severe turbulence...but who knows for sure at this point.

[GOPGuide]

The 20 km fuel slick indicates NO BOMB. The weather tore this airbus apart.

Are we sure about that? Any experts here want to comment on the fuel slick?

[umgud]

Hmmm, I wonder how it could have just exploded in mid-air?

An electical wire short in the center fuels tank?/s

[This_far]

Can’t reply to all posters, but a report tonight on the weather conditions related that a reconstruction of the flight path showed that the plane went through THREE severe storm cells. (from the story this was not a normal procedure?)

Additionally, at least two (2) other planes on similar routes went through this area within a “close” time frame and completed their destinations.

[note: fire(s) on the water were reported by another aircraft, which obviously transversed the weather]

This is a well traveled route.

[bboop]

I heard they had had electrical problems, which would make radar not work, which would cause them to fly into the electrical storm without seeing it.

[tanuki]

Anybody know how well made an Airbus is?

[fortress]

It seems the French newspapers are not affraid to speculate on the cause, I heard that in addition to Le Monde Le Figaro also opines that this plane exploded in mid air

[GRANGER]

It’s too easy...if it were a bomb they would have known right away from the debris...and we have heard nothing of burn marks, etc. The airbus broke apart and came down in several pieces.

[libh8er]

He was being sarcastic. Isn’t that obvious ?

[fortress]

That also crossed my mind. It was dark and it sounds like the pilot was flying blindly into these storms

[advance_copy]

Ten minutes later, the plane sent a burst of automatic messages, indicating the autopilot had disengaged, the flight-control computer system had been switched to alternative-power and controls needed to keep the plane stable had been damaged.

Three minutes later, automatic messages warned that two other fundamental systems that monitor air speed, altitude and direction had failed. Then came a cascade of electrical failures in systems that control the main flight computer and wing spoilers.

The last message came at 11.14pm, indicating loss of air pressure and electrical failure. The newspaper said this could mean sudden depressurisation, or that the plane was already falling into the ocean.

Four minutes of transmissions indicating a series of failures doesn't sound like a bomb. Sounds more like structural breakup in hyper-turbulance.

[SoldierDad]

Is it? Over 200 hundred people died on that flight - want to ask the relatives if they thought that was just being sarcastic?

[Big_Monkey]

"Any discussions of the possibility of weather need to be informed by this hyper-professional analysis:

After reading that, all I can say is "Man, is that guy smart."

Everyday, the internet continues to amaze me. It's the most collaborative tool that's ever been created.

The author spells out in great detail what a challenge the weather would have played for the crew and the aircraft. I'm still puzzled why there wasn't any mayday call. But, I'm sure that will be revealed if and when the FDR's are recovered.

[Frantzie]

Over Queens - carbon fiber tail snapping due to take off too close to jet ahead of it.

I wonder if the stress and turbulence cause dthe carbon fiber A330 to shatter like carbon fiber will do.

I will stick to Boeing aluminum thank you.

[mc6809e]

Anybody know how well made an Airbus is?

I don't know, but in Nov 2001(?), a rudder broke off shortly after take off.

[Big_Monkey]

"Al Queda did not take credit for 9-11 and other attacks."

That's true. I don't believe anything close to a claim was made until considerable time later when Bin Ladin was recorded on video saying something to the effect of "It went better than we could have ever imagined or planned."

[fortress]

Well the biggest problem with Airbus is that their controls are all electronic, fly by wire. No hydraulics for back up in case of electrical problems

[dalereed]

Exploded no, they flew into a large thunderstorm and got ripped apart!

No aircraft can survive the windsheer of a large thunderstorm and from the radar imiages shown on TV no aircraft ever made would survive if they even entered the edge.

[BenLurkin]

From the AP:

"One fear — terrorism — was dismissed Wednesday by all three countries involved in the search and recovery effort. France's defense minister and the Pentagon said there were no signs that terrorism was involved, and Jobim said "that possibility hasn't even been considered."

What.....?