[PapaBear3625]

Problem with that - time is only important if you're aiming for a target, like a city. And why wouldn't you, if you're a Muslim terrorist? But apparently the goal was just a long, slow descent into the mountains. Doesn't sound like a terrorist target.

Which would do more damage to the European economy: a random terrorist incident, or giving the impression that Airbus planes will fall out of the sky for no discernible reason?

As far as not announcing a terror attack: perhaps they want to intimidate European leadership, without generating a public clamor to move against Islamists?

[mware]

German newspaper reported this.
The pilots named as Patrick S and Andreas L

privacy laws in Germany stop the release of the last name.

It should not be hard to figure out the last names given this information.