[Strategerist]

So how are the slides activated? Was this operator error or equipment error?

If equipment error I could see a ridiculous number of aircraft (how many besides 777s have the same door/slide design or manufacturer?) grounded until a fix is implemented as this is a critical safety flaw.

[cripplecreek]

this is a critical safety flaw.

Years ago when the company I worked for started up for a new model year of Cadillac, we worked for 3 weeks when we suddenly got every last door we made back in the shop.

It wasn't our fault but it was one of those design flaws than no one caught till we were winding up for a full scale run. There was a big supply of normal production parts to test. It turned out that a series of metal studs inside the door were too long and too sharp. They prevented proper side airbag deployment, causing rips and snags. We had to grind 13 studs down flat and smooth on 36 thousand doors.

The design was changed to a fixed nut on one side so the stud could be replaced with a screw that was tightened down flat and out of the way of the airbag.

[Blueflag]

Doors are ‘armed’, to auto inflate when the doors are opened. You can watch the flight attendeants flip a large lever and/or attach a bar at the bottom of the doors to do this.

Force of impact/ flexing of fuselage probably activated the switch.

Worthy of an AD.

[Blueflag]

not worthy of grounding.

This was such an extraordinary event. They will learn from it and issue an update known as an AD or airwirthiness Directive.