James Robinson wrote:
a wrote:

One has no idea how true this is, but for what it's worth, read on:.

It's sensationalist garbage.

The fact that the maintenance system transmitted for four minutes says that
not only was the aircraft more or less in one piece during that time, but
that the electrical systems were still functioning. If the tail snapped
off as suggested, the aircraft wouldn't have lasted more than a few seconds
at that altitude and speed.

Indications are stronger that the failure of the vertical stabilizer was a
consequence rather than a cause of the accident.

Would it be possible that four minutes is how long it took the aircraft
(or the remains of hit) to hit the water? That would be a 8750 feet per
minute vertical speed, which seems a realist figure to me. Furthermore I
am on the impression that the system is autonomous, thus could still
function once the aircraft was broken apart (if so was the case).