Yes there is a lot of electronics in an Airbus, just as there is in a Boeing.

One aspect that I think could be the cause is a problem with the general software that guides the automated systems and the electronics. I've heard stories that when heading toward a mountain the software of a plane should allow for some extreme evasive manouvers even if it meant going close to the airplanes durability limits.

I guess it's possible that we might never know the real cause, would put a shadow over, well most air travel I guess. Probably not what they want in this economic situation.

According to this French article

http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/soc...47_766227.html

two names on the passenger list are identical to names of two known Islamic terrorists. French authorities currently try to verify the identity of the two suspects, which is difficult since no other information about them (birth dates etc.) currently are known and currently nobody can rule out that the matching names are by random chance only.

Different article, same topic.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...adical_Muslims

Looks like the French have sent a nuclear sub to search for the black boxes:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/french-n...0611-c3y7.html

Yes heard about this. If anyone can find those pings thats the boat to do it. :rock:

But I wonder... if they do find the boxes in that deep of water it will be an extrodinary misson to retrieve them.

I guess they will call for some kind of deep sea oceanographic submersible with some sort of retireval claw or something, to retrieve them. Depending on where and if they find them of course.

And today, another Airbus, of the same model was forced to make an emergency landing whilst flying from Japan to Australia.

Apparently it caught fire.

What is it with these planes?

Simultaneity of events does not automatically mean a causal link with the same cause.

I hear that a threat was issued two days before the flight was lost. I also hear that two passengers have been linked to known terrorist cells.

But I haven't heard any claims of responsibility. Now this may very well be because the retaliation could be enormose.

But isn't there some claim of responsibility? Or have terrorists wised up?

I'm a little suprised other nations haven't sent nukes to assist in a co-ordinated and more timely investigation of the area.

In some ways it gives you some estimation as to how the nuclear powers divide the world. On the other hand there may be some dis-information as -wel.

I agree, but they seem to be making a few headlines these days. I know I'd think twice before boarding one.

This was due to a fire in the cockpit. The airline has stated that it was a fault in the left side cockpit window heater. Initially there was smoke then flame which was quickly extingushed by the crew. The emergency landing was a precaution in case there were other problems which from first reports there were none found. Engineers were sent to do a thorough investigation before the aircraft will be cleared for return to it's home maintenance base where it will get checked over again.

The one that crashed off Brazil was a A330-200 whilst the one that did the emergency landing was an A330-300. There are significant differences between the two despite them sharing a common airframe and basic systems.

The fact that there are two incidents within weeks of one another from a common manufacturer is nothing significant.

Another Airbus in Russia is reported to have had a crack in the frontal windshield.

Airbus wants to sue Le Figaro for having printed prematurely that the pitot sensors alone have caused the Atlantic crash.

After that incident in the North Atlantic a few months ago they probably wouldn't dare! ;)

In all seriousness though, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some other boats in the area which were sent across to have a listen, the French boat goes with a news report to show that the French government is doing something.