That is the airline that is saying “external source”. When I heard that, I thought, if it was in the US it would be a means to avoid a lawsuit.

The plane that crashed had actually had a bad landing years ago where the tail hit the ground before the wheels. And there had been other complaints about its maintenance.

I think the airline is trying to deflect responsibility.

Let’s not forget the very long shot possibility of an Israeli missile.

I doubt that it is, because I can’t see how it would serve Israeli interests to do so, but they’re in the neighborhood and they have the technology.

Is this the same one the Islamic State claims they downed? I was reading on the news the Russians are mightily pissed about it. I don’t think I would want to poke the bear that is Putin very much.

I’m clear that I have no idea, little information, no first-hand information, and that the information I do have, could almost all be influenced by political or other corrupt factors.

I don’t have an opinion this is what happened, but supposing an unofficial government or corporate agency had an agenda and would like to suggest it was a mechanical accident, I imagine they would be willing to handsomely bribe the pilot’s widow to say she had a message from her husband like that. Mechanical failure does seem plausible. It seems harder though to cover up a missile attack, as many people could see it, and there’s no way to reliably prevent a video from going public. There’s also no way to know if someone has a video but hasn’t made it go public yet, which is a disincentive for someone who cares about their reputation for honesty to claim they know it wasn’t a missile, since they could be shown false if they know it was a missile. So I think a missile seems less likely, from my very un-fact-informed perspective.

I don’t think it was a missile but it might have been a bomb smuggled on board. The black box recorder should tell us more.

As of this moment, the news media is reporting that the plane experienced rapid deceleration, as if the plane “hit a wall.” A satellite picked up a heat flash in the immediate area, but they don’t know yet if this is a signature of a mid-air explosion, or the remaining fuel exploding upon impact. The plane left a debris field of eight square miles which is consistent with a mid-air explosion.

The debris field is considered quite wide for the plane’s altitude and weather conditions for just structural failure, according to one “expert.” This lends to the massive explosion theory. But the plane is said to be flying too high to be hit by a shoulder-fired surface to air missile which means that a rather sophisticated, large, mobile launching system would have to be used. Intelligence services claim none of these are in the hands of terrorists in the Sanai. But they’ve been wrong before. On-board technical difficulties, such as improperly stored explosive cargo, an on-board explosive device, or even structural failure are not ruled out as yet.

Various intelligence services, including the Russians’, Mossad, Egyptian Intelligence, and probably the US, are working on this. Air France and Lufthansa are refusing to fly over the Sanai. We can expect others to do the same. The black boxes have yet to be found, but there are rudimentary function monitor-recorders in the engines and certain parts of the fuselage that can be helpful once they are deciphered. The black boxes have yet to be found,

The jury is still out. It’s a very interesting mystery.

@Espiritus_Corvus – who is right? Various news channels say that the black boxes have been found and are in the custody of the Egyptian government, and being decoded.

@elbanditoroso: Yes, I see that now. Speed of light news. I’m glad to hear this.

There are some variables I keep thinking of.
I also wondered of any fingerprints left for a satellite to pick up.
Also, does anyone remember the reaction of the Malaysian Muslims with the Russian missiles downing their jet? Rabid. Reason enough for this?
This just seems too…. I don’t know what… perfectly done. Both crashes had everything cleared, right down to the non-populated areas for any ground impact or parts distribution.
I wonder at the Egyptians having the black boxes…. from a Russian airline? Red flags to me.
( no pun intended ) Anyone else?
I thought of the Malaysian flight immediately.
But then the recently imbedded Russians in the middle of the Syrian war? They have been ruthless since their entry. (Yes. The US role, Dr’s Without Borders horror, et al- the US doesn’t tiptoe either. I know)
Does this stem from there?
One ground airline worker is all it would take if not via an air attack.
Like peeling an onion. Just as difficult to handle while doing so.
The implications from this will be felt for quite awhile.
And we’ve got a front row seat.
@Espiritus_Corvus – spot on. Wow.

The airline’s latest statement behind their reasoning that “it had to be external” was that the cockpit crew did not radio anything. But there is an unconfirmed report of an Egyptian official claiming there was a distress call.

I wonder if they had a lithium battery explosion that ignited the fuel. It was a Russian-owned plane so it may not have been up to US safety standards.

There was that. Good point. @zenvelo -
Do you think that to side-step any claims or responsibilities, that Russia would push the ‘attacked’ standpoint? I have no idea if they can even file something like that. Try to blame Egypt? Or what will happen to the poor families?

Mechanical failure or straight up villainy? If the plane was sabotaged the list of suspects is as long as your arm. There’s probably going to be speculation about “who done it” for a considerable period of time.

Well a sudden “stop” and wide debris spray could also mean sabotage or bomb aboard the plane.

@Zaku
You make a good point..it makes sense!
Now the second crash… ?