PROSECUTOR-Deliberate Attempt To Destroy Aircraft

[DemocratSinceBirth]

PER CNN

[Little Star]

1. Sure looks to be deliberate. :(

[JaneyVee]

2. I don't believe it.

[WillowTree]

11. Why would you disbelieve it?

What motive would a French prosecutor have for giving the somewhat detailed description of the information that they have from the cockpit recorder if what he was saying wasn't true? He's certainly not the only.......probably not even the first.......person to have heard the recordings so I just don't see any purpose to make such public statemenst unless they were backed-up by what's on the recorder.

[JaneyVee]

14. They said they heard co-pilot breathing...

But never responded. Perhaps he had a seizure or diabetic shock, etc. Breathing doesn't mean conscious. Reports said he was happy, loved being a pilot, no previous problems. Something doesn't add up.

[WillowTree]

15. But they also said that the descent that took place.......

.......while he was alone in the cockpit couldn't have been accidental as if he had just passed out and fallen against the controls. They were saying that it involved some sort of dial that would have needed to have been turned repeatedly to accomplish that descent.

None of what they were saying sounded as if it wasn't deliberate, in some manner or another and for some reason or another.

Regardless, just totally tragic all the way around.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. "The co-pilot took advantage of the pilot leaving the cockpit."/NT

"The co-pilot used the manual lever to fly the plane into a quick descent."

[pangaia]

5. The... 'manual lever..?"

Is that like the flusher on the toilet?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I suspect there are automatic and manual controls...

I am as much a fan of levity as the next guy or gal but...

[pangaia]

17. As below, I'm a pilot. :>)) Sometimes.

There is no such thing as the "manual lever."

The A-320 doesn't even have a control column. It has side sticks.
Auto pilot is engaged with a 'button.'

[Yo_Mama]

13. The reference is to the autopilot controls

The rate of descent would have required manual override of the AP system - that was discussed early on by A320 pilots. The AP would not itself choose that rate of descent if descent were programmed.

Also the door controls were manually overridden to lock the captain out.

[pangaia]

16. I'm a pilot. :>))

[Yo_Mama]

18. This is so damned sad - and strange. n/t

[hlthe2b]

4. ...

There are no words...

[Takket]

7. sure looks that way...

based on what they said last night about hearing one of the pilots trying to knock the door down to get into the cockpit, it sure sounds like it was leading up to this. I had thought maybe depressurization caused unconsciousness but if that was true the pilot beating on the door would not have been able to do so.......

it is looking like their is a pretty fatal flaw in the system of barricading the cockpit door to keep hijackers out... if one of the pilots wants to be the highjacker, you've now left no way of preventing them from crashing the plane.

[pipi_k]

8. OK so flying is safe

unless you're at the mercy of someone bent on suicide and mass murder.

Horrible.

It's a true nightmare.

[BlueJazz]

9. Aww Geez..

[sendero]

10. Somewhat more..

.... that an attempt.

[Takket]

12. i'm sure investigators are pouring over this guy's hard drives as we speak

we'll know more in a few days, hopefully.