Air France A 330
The Horrifying loss of an Airbus raises many questions but one thing it does underline is the wisdom of the constant real-time information sharing which is now possible and which is being incorporated in the next Gen Airliners such as the A330 and A380.
Unfortunately the last data transmission from the stricken A330 suggests an in flight break up possibly after a lightning strike. For all their sophistication one thing often missed by the general public when they are shuddering at the thought of a flight in a little GA aircraft is that the big ones are like a blob of Jell-O compared to the little one. Anyone with reasonable skill should survive a C172 or Cherokee 140 being turned on its back but if a 747 were to be turned totally upside down it would be a very risky business to recover it successfully from such an upset.
Let us hope for a speedy closure for all those involved