[MinorityRepublican]

the pilot may have accidentally retracted the flaps instead of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, resulting in a critical loss of lift.

That's what I've heard.

[cuban leaf]

That was what I thought, but the rat sort of destroys that theory. I’d never heard of the rat before, but from what I’m hearing, the reason for its deployment - along with the angle of the tires, strongly suggests both engines died.

It suggests ground crew put some “bad gas” in the tank.

[Justa]

“may have accidentally retracted the flaps instead of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, resulting in a critical loss of lift.”

Would that have deployed the RAT?

[smokingfrog]

That’s extremely unlikely.