[verum ago]

That is very strange - having a slat malfunction at altitude ??. The slats are retracted no later that 3000 feet. Once retracted, there isn’t much at altitude to mess with them - wierd.

Other outlets are reporting it as a birdstrike. Probably suffered damage at lower altitude, then the thing started flaking apart once at full cruise speed...

[digger48]

You answered my question

Thanks

[libh8er]

Probably suffered damage at lower altitude, then the thing started flaking apart once at full cruise speed...

16 million commercial flights take off worldwide every year. I would imagine a fair number of them get hit by birds. I have never seen anything like that, especially where a flight had to return due to damage to its wing. Would be in the news if it did. Or maybe I missed it.