[Uri’el-2012]

Any word on cause yet?

My first guess is lack of de-icing on the wings.

[tips up]

That was my thought too, but the Denver airport seems pretty compulsive about deicing planes this time of year.

[pfflier]

I'm gonna guess sudden uncontrollable drag on the right side. Loss of engine thrust, tire failure or flap/slat problems could have cause that.

The initial reports say the nose was up (V1) then went back down as the plane veered right. That leads to thrust problems as a likely cause.

[jwparkerjr]

re: My first guess is lack of de-icing on the wings

I saw a report by a numb-nuts MSM type saying icing probably wasn't the problem since it wasn't snowing at the time! Geesh, is there no end to the stupidity of people employed as ‘journalists’ these days.

I didn't see any mention of the conditions at the time other than the discussion about cross winds, confused by other MSM flying experts who were having great difficulty understanding which direction a plane departing runway 08 would be going. But then there was also some confusion as to whether the runway was 08 or runway 34. None of them seemed quite sure.

It's depressing to read press reports, especially early reports, of a major incident like this. Makes you really wonder if they are as inaccurate in other stories as they are with aviation incidents.

Lord, save us from the news media!